One Big thing a Small girl taught me.

I saw her again today

Coy, diffident,

but younger, fresher, livelier,

a hint of my once reflection.

I asked her if we had met before,

to which she just smiled,

“Once”, she answered,

eyes down at her feet,

I knew she had lied.

She looked at my wedding ring

“Congratulations!” she exclaimed.

It’s been ten years

and a lot of ups and downs,

yet, Thankyou!, I complained.

“I see, you look different this time”,

she said with awe in her eyes.

Oh, I replied, are these wrinkles you are talking about?

or the greys I forgot to dye?

I heard you won the award again, she said,

I admire your achievements.

I wish I could be like you someday

successful and confident.

“Why would you want to be like me?”

I said with surprise!

There’s nothing you would enjoy

in this life of hardships and responsibilities,

you wouldn’t find your joy.

What YOU have is what I want, I added,

Age and Time in hand,

how carefree one can be

holding the clock of sand.

She stood her stance

till the end

like the ancient tree

loyal to its land,

And said with wisdom

I hadn’t seen

in any schools

where I had been.

That hourglass, she said,

one could turn

and time one could find

what is lost and what is to be found

is all in the mind.

I want to be you

you want to be me

and that is how

the mankind lives

not for the life that has been given

but for the grass at the other end

that is always green.