There is still a child in me

Today, I saw my grandmother after 2 months. I always have been very much closer to her. It would not be wrong if I call her the angel of my life. So, when today I was dropping her at New Delhi Railway Station, a strange emotion shook me up. I instantly travelled back in time to the era when I would have been 6 or 7 at most. I could feel the same old me. She was travelling towards the station with my uncle. I stood there and watched her mix into the crowd. Then, I had the strangest of the sensation. I felt like holding one end of her saree and walking behind her and felt like crying as I used to do earlier. Just then I thought of these lines, " There is still a child inside me".  As soon as I got back home, I started working on this piece. I know for my entire life to follow, this would be among the best piece of work written by me. 

There is still a child in me

___________________________

I am little now, 

Playing in sun all the day,

Arrogant, mischievous and domineering

 But, whenever I see an old soul,

Walking with a stick,

I want to go near her,

Grab it and run away,

Coz, there is a child in me.

Now I am aging slowly, 

Comprehending the lessons of life,

But somewhere my heart cries, 

When I look at an old soul

Sitting in sun,

All I could wish is, 

To go near her and put my head in her lap

And then sleep to her lullaby

Because there is a child in me.

I now am going to school,

I made new friends, got  bikes and cars,

I have many experiences

Some good, Some bad

Some mesmerizing, some embarrassing.

But, Still when I look at an old soul

I want to go to her when she cooks

For the aromas of her dishes is magical

Filling my stomach and leaving a smile

Because there is a child in me.

I am 20 now, 

I go to college these days,

I have read many books now

Some good, some bad, 

Some interesting, Some amazing

But, still when I look at an old soul

I want to go  and sit next to her,

Listen to their stories,

Stories of our past through their eyes

Because there is a child in me.

I work now,

I have had share of my life

And I got married and have a wife

We have kids, and they are growing fast.

I have some memories,

Some are happy, some are sad

Some are beautiful, some are hard to forget

But, now when I see an old soul

I still want to go next to her

And, this time, ask, "How was your past"?

I'm old now, 

I have no work, 

My children have grown up.

My wife is old like me.

I have some feelings

Some are good, Some are bad

Some are regretful and some are deep inside

But, When I see an old soul

My eyes fill tears,

However, I want to ask, " What have you achieved in this life"?

Now, When I look into the mirror,

I see the very old soul

Whom I have seen, 

When I was a child or a parent

Smiling and waving back at me.

Thus, whenever I see an old soul, 

I want to hold their stick,

And gaze upon their happy eyes, 

Because there is still a child in me.

A poem by:-

Upmanyu Bhardwaj