By Suhani Bhatnagar
She claps her hands,
In excitement and glee:
Two guardians guide her
Before she finally flees.
"Ma, am I old enough now?"
-"Not old enough to take those delicate vows,
With someone from your dreams unknown,
Around a flame so bright and wide
Luminous enough to guide you right.
As intense as your passion to care,
Red with your own divine flare."
The little girl goes away
To confide into her father;
Who longed for nothing but time to stay.
"Pa, am I old enough now?"
-"You will never be old enough for me:
For me you'll always be a young girl
Free from toil, playing with dolls,
Unbothered by what the society calls:
A duty, a girl must fulfill.
Little do they know
It is a day dreamer's will,
A will, a father's afraid of:
To give away his beloved
In some spiritual bond."
Years and years pass by
Like a dandelion
Flying high
In the air all alone,
In search of nothing but a new home.
Slow and patient it remains,
Rests when it finds
What it can hold dear,
A place for those afar
And those near.
"Ma and Pa, is the time ripe yet?"
-"True it is sweetheart.
We have to hold back our fears:
How can we, give you away
To a life of spade and spear
With someone who you dream of;
Alone in the vacant mess,
Handling and struggling with what has you caressed.
Ah! the times when you used to play,
Making castles of mud and clay,
By the seaside, on the shore.
It is difficult now, the last chore:
Seeing you off; sending you away.
Watching our little girl in that divine, mystic dress;
Dressed like the Goddess herself,
Mustering emotions under her veil,
Holding joy and sorrow in her breath
Stopping that liquid from rolling down,
Holding hands with someone else.
Walking down the aisle
With a long, nervous sigh.
Eyes moving hither and thither,
Searching for solace.
Sitting beside somebody,
Understanding you won't come back to us."
The guardians broke off in silence,
Tears rolled down their eyes.
The sunlight masking the room
Watched them learn how time flies.