AS A CHILD.

A WOMAN REMEMBERS HER CHILDHOOD.

As a child you would
Comb your father’s hair.
You would stand behind

Him on the huge armchair
And drag the large comb
Through his long dark mane.

Pull it gently, Anu, he would
Say, I wish to retain my hair
For old age, and he would then

Laugh and tap your hand and
His thin shoulders would rise
And fall in his merriment. As

A child you reached up to
Hold your father’s hand and
He would take you back and

Forth to school and to shops
And to your grandfather’s
House with his white blind

Eyes that saw nothing but
Everything and father would
Say, Anu, bring Grandfather

His pipe or bring him his tea
And you would do as you were
Asked and became the little

Servant of both men and bow
And scrape and touch your
Forehead and show your smile

And little white teeth. As a
Young woman, you look at
The photographs of both men,

Each one dead and with no hair
Or wants to serve or table to wait,
Just you, your sadness and grief.

Reviews

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I really like this very much....it tells a story of Anu and her grandfathers through the ages.. as a child happily doing their bidding without feeling submission because when someone asks politely and with love it is an honor to serve.. and the last verse .. the inevitable. Sad poem of childhood joy.

Chloe