WALK BESIDE ME

You used to walk beside me,

Holding me, irritating me, teasing me,

Swinging my tiny hand cuddled in yours

In the open air as a newly found toy.

Proud, head held high,

I used to walk beside you,

In the rush of showing off.

I forgot the paths we walked,

May be it had puddles and pebbles,

Stones and pain,

Once, twice, I jerked, I even trembled,

You held me…you walked beside me;

Then why did you leave me alone on my chosen path ahead?

Was I bad? Did I make some mistake?

I have not had the gratification, the happiness,

The glee from the moment you decided to stay back

Wasn’t the pain enough

That you oblige me to hold different hands

Where once were your hands.

I have walked ahead, miles ahead,

Have held many hands…strong, tiny, soft

But never the hands as yours.

Can’t assure you the same me because

I have reached far ahead of you

The wind, the dust, the rain, the suns

Have changed me a lot.

But I assure you that I would

Love you, walking beside each other not shouting,

Not irritating one another, in silence of

Understanding that the tired, old hands of yours

Which sent me alone to conquer world and hearts,

Is safe beside me.

Let’s walk beside one another again papa.

Kukku B.

III BA (PJoE)