I remember all those years ago
The big green leafy Gulmohar’s shadow,
We played for long hours under the tree:
Absolutely blissfully ignorant and carefree.
And then a lad of ‘teen, I discovered,
The new shadows of my life: One of ’em
The shadow of jealousy : of his good looks,
Her brains, his mobile, her lifestyle.

As a youth, about to face the
Real world I had a shadow of doubt –
Would I ….. could I make it?
Make my life my own? Alone?
But I needn’t have worried, for
Just like always, I had if I wanted,
The protective, supportive, motivating,
Shadow that my parents provided.

I remember, not so long ago, it seems
That I met another lovely shadow:
That of Love; and into its abyss I fell.
I fell into love and so matrimony.
Then, my children required of me,
The same shadow of support and security
That I received. And I gave them that
And more without thought.

And now I lie in bed, old and frail,
The final shadow of my life
Creeping up on me slowly – And so,
Tonight I meet the shadow of death.


Originally written on  9 October, 2008