By Anju Sharma
Amber shades of dusk have started to engulf my being
The end of the bridge connecting golden dawn of youth to
silver spangled night of the old
Stands staring at me......Scaring me
The DUSK - beginning of the final destination
Looms up large , it's fading colours reminiscent
Of ebbing the life of a lifetime of me that was to be....
Has the sparkle gone out of my eyes yet
Has the laughter died on my lips yet
Has the chill settled on my lined face
Have I finally bowed out of the lively race....
Did I win...Did I lose
The winning crown
Was I ever even close
Is my body already bereft of it's soul
Am I ready to leave without achieving my goal.....
Ah ! questions as long as the shadows of the Dusk..........
The hour of contemplation has arrived
Which side am I supposed to lean
The Beckoning or the Ending
Is it over or am I still keen
I choose a new Dusky Dawn.....
Many more interesting miles to go
Many an untapped treasures to know
Still have a chance to be a free bird in the vast sky
To live and relish the moments yet to go by !
Unlimited , unread books to choose from
Untapped hobbies , knowledge waiting to be drawn
The ferocity of the youthful gold maybe low
But the maturity of the older silver is now aglow !
I revel in the knowledge of the responsibilities fulfilled well
Challenges met with , sorrows dealt with
The scars in me do tell
Stories of success and failure , life's losses and gains
An uncharted journey completed
Smiling in joys , triumphing over pains !
As I look at my beautiful , confident children shrouded in their youthful eagerness
A proud parent am I
Certain of them loving and living their interesting path in all it's uniqueness
Adding to the joyful magnitude of the contented smile on my face when I die !
Now is the time for me to open yet another notebook
To explore life's yet unknown corners and nook
To write yet another chapter
Ink the blank page with another tear and laughter
To build up yet another story brick by brick...
To rise from the ashes
And be the proverbial PHOENIX.........