Maturity brings memories back
I read the eyes of my father

He would smile on hearing our dreams
But his eyes had illegible writing
We kept on adding items
To the list
Rushed as he returned
Tired from office...
We looked the world
And compared our tiny cottage
When would father say yes
To turn it into a palace...
Oft we built castles
In the air...
An ivory white house with designer
Boundary walls...
Mason came ; estimated expenditure
Excited we were to think of comfiture
Father postponed the construction
We didn't know but there were reasons...
We felt depressed but never read the eyes
Eyes had the answers but we trusted the smiles...
His promising smiles made us glad...
Once again we sat to weave dreams

Now at this threshold I feel the same
There may be some concerns
money is not easy to be earned...
Sacrifices are made dreams are buried
Plans are postponed to meet other end
Cold and heat; aching heels; taxing mind
Torrential rain; piles of work and chides
Stress ; aging marks ; turning hair grey
Then money comes through difficult way...
Now I know what eyes meant to say...
Father you were not too economical
But we failed to understand what you
Wished to convey...

Shraddha
© Shraddha S Sahu