A Pair of Eyes

Historically, women have always been known as caregivers… the nurturers of families and societies. But a question remains — do they receive in return.. the care they truly deserve?

This Winter, I happened to visit a government-run Women old age home, and what I saw there stayed with me till date.. Thus happened this Poem- “A Pair of Eyes.”

Today I saw a pair of eyes,
moist with care and kindness,
that called me closer
to share some tales.

We stood facing each other but we knew our worlds could never meet.

Speaking through gestures,
with no miscommunication whatsoever.
They shared and I listened.

Today I saw a pair of eyes
welling up with gratitude.
Turning to me again,
I could see them trying to remember—
a vague face, some shared laughter,
and a few tiny fingers.

Fighting hard to swallow tears,
they let out a void
which words could never explain.

Today I saw a pair of eyes
full of innocence— that cared for others a lifetime,
but now waits silently for someone to care for them.

Sitting across the fire, they tried to lock
with one such another pair.
With a sip of tea
and a bite of cookies,
they laughed together— maybe at each other,
maybe at themselves.

Book Mark

Flipping through pages of an old book.. My fingers nudged some dessicated petals

Brushing through their veins, I could feel the warmth of your palms

As I sat on the bench at the side wall of the park

That rose- then bright and red-  flew from somewhere onto my book

Raising my eyebrows, I could see you smiling over my head

Keeping on poking my angry face, you just placed it as a bookmark

Saying that each time I turn a page, this would give my heart a spark

Days flew by, so do years..

Today when I am again on that bench, flipping through those pages

I wish to have a rose to fall over from somewhere

picking up which, I could see you poking my angry face

and I could tell you each time I turned a page,

that bookmark did give my heart a spark