He poured out his feelings with a deep sigh
Seated near the gate as vehicles passed by;
“I’m waiting for familiar faces who wish me, ‘Hai’
And for my family who once bade, ‘Good bye’ *
My grandparents and parents died at home
A small hut with a hall and a cooking room;
My grandchildren and children live in mansions
In a house not mine, I burn out my passions.
Why should the nuns take care of me?
Family? Relatives? Though none they be!
In white-garments they are living angels …
A decade ago, we were, but strangers.
Some of us chat about our younger days,
With bygone memories set ablaze.
We know fully well; they’ll never return,
And yet, our insane hearts nostalgically burn.
One by one lay coffined in the middle of the isle
I am left back; I know it’s just for a while.
The one who sat next to me is abruptly gone.
I believe, unto eternity, they are all born.
I tell you one thing for sure.
For the old age there’s no cure!
The bench I sat on and the bed I slept in,
Whose will they be? This world is just an inn.
Take care of YOUR elders I pray
For you too are on the way.
It’s your task and responsibility;
Do it to the best of your ability.
Can you escape aging? Oh no never!
You will face it one day, however!
The living ones will die one day, whosoever,
The dead ones will live forever and ever.”
