Understanding
It wasn't easy to forget my last visit to him;
the empty chair still rocked in anticipation,
proud table exhibited his notebook and pen,
pages fluttered revealing first line of his work-
"A painted crow does not become a swan."
He had laughed at that unusual thought;
as a witness to the aftermath, I can recall:
he had become thoughtful for a moment,
had pushed the diary and closed the pen,
saying, "This is the beginning as well as the end."
He never wrote afterwards, but talked much
about poetry, literature, and essence of art,
published my work and inaugurated seminars.
To my persistence that he should write,
he had but one answer: "I'm a painted crow."
His wife gave me his dairy with that one line poem,
said: he respected you, for you alone understood.
--
c s shah
|