A Birthday Message
Dear Friend,
Here’s my birthday message
for you
and the child
in you.
Not referring to the child,
who cries and stamps his foot on the floor
(you may if you please)
but the child,
who quickly forgets,
the qualms and the expectations.
Not referring to the child
who runs in excitement all the time,
(you may if you please)
but the one,
who while chasing dreams
doesn’t forget to dream
about new people, places, and self.
Not referring to the child
who gets scared of monsters under the bed
(you can if you still see them)
but the one
who crawls in a fetal position
and win over the demons within
in the most silent hours of the night.
Not referring to the child
for whom hugs are the panacea
(it is never bad to get some though)
but who knows
how to hold hands gently
when fellow beings find it hard to sail through life.
Not referring to the child
who is always making things
paper planes
stubborn stains
rhymeless hums
incorrupt relations
disfigured portraits
stirring journals (use color pens if you may please)
dramatic excuses
affectionate expressions
careless splashes
(you may stay full of possibilities if you please)
but the one
who has learnt from the scorecards
not to fail the inner child
in the school of life
especially in the subjects of kindness and joy
Dear Friend,
Here’s my birthday message
for you
and the child
in you
Grow old if you must,
but,
grow old with the child,
in you.
(let me warn you if I may,
-it’s a slippery slope)
