REMEMBRANCES

  Today I remember the days gone by
 I remember the times when my house was full
 Of the patter of footsteps & my own loud voice
 As I spoke incessantly chiding or correcting.
  
 There forever seemed some task which was left
 Some schoolwork not completed
 Some class about to happen
 Some teacher walking in!
  
 There were the days when I had my plans
 To do a Rangoli with flowers
 From a design which would be mixed & matched
 The shopping for accessories would have taken some time.
  
 Then there were the hampers for friends
 Done with sweets and goodies and cards
 All of which I made at home myself
 Then sent them with yet another plan to reach them on time.
  
 There were the days which were as busy as they are now
 As hectic as time can be
 I never had time to dwell on silly things
 Not worry about anything at all.
  
 It stays that way today too,
 I am out early and come back late,
 I create, plan and teach all in one day
 I manage my home and keep it immaculate still.
  
 I have all the same friends and some new ones too,
 All love me and care and remember me as before
 We all are busy with something in our lives
 Yet there seems to be a difference somewhere, no doubt.
  
 I looked back today as I do often now
 To find out what it was that I did then and don’t do now
 I realized I do everything still as always
 But its just that my attention has got divided now.
  
 I have three homes and three places to go to,
 Which in a way is great some would say?
 It allows me a choice and scope to explore and meet
 And allows me to innovate more than before.
  
 Yet I feel there’s something amiss
 Its not just about your little one flying the coop,
 Its about the other phase in your life
 Where you are in a hurry to make your wisdom work.
  
 Its about gaining the foresight to look beyond one’s ego
 To be able to have a view which keeps the wide-angle lens on,
 Its about wanting to make people understand
 The futility of doing things without a meaningful goal.
  
 The restlessness comes from an urgency to change
 Something which you know you cannot,
 Because you are smart enough to grasp that the world doesn’t care
 And your work’s impact will be lost the minute you disappear.
  
 To know that your impressions will not be cast in stone
 Your ideas would inspire people only after your gone,
 That you will be missed when you aren’t there anymore
 Makes one want to disappear now, if that makes an impact!
  
 Thus, remembering and reminiscing of the days gone by
 I realize the restlessness comes from my prudence
 Of knowing that the impact of a person’s presence
 Comes not from the presence but their absence!!