I AM NOT YET OLD— a poem in two parts

I AM NOT OLD / I AM NOT YET OLD

[A poem, in two parts, about a young heart in an old frame. A love song from a gray suitor! Both parts were written within a span of 2 days. I think I was too much conscious of age at that time:)]


I AM NOT OLD


Come my love I am not old.
Come nigh me and let me hold
You in my arms, young am I.
Come let us love, don’t be shy.

Spring is here, fragrant is breeze,
Cuckoo singing in the trees.
Lilies, roses everywhere,
I am, but, of love aware.

Lilting tunes melodious,
Are sending messages thus:
Don’t waste a precious moment,
Let not love’s madness relent.

Come and fill my cup of wine,
I want to drink from eyes thine.
Let my heart verily bleed
By your glances, don’t pay heed.

Come nigh me and let me kiss
Your sweet lips full of such bliss.
Come nigh me and let us dance
Lost in eternal love trance.

Don’t be put off by gray hair.
Why don’t you admire my flair
For romance and love for you,
For my manly feelings true?

Why bother if you do spy
Aging rings around my eye?
Don’t you spy that from my heart
Sparks of love for you so dart?

Come on, in this lovely night,
Full of heavenly delight,
Let none tell me, I am old.
I have yet intentions bold.

When love talk is in the air,
Why, once more, I too not dare
To express my love for you?
After all, I am young, too!


14 November, 2003
* Written in aabb, 7-7-7-7 format


********************


I AM NOT YET OLD


No, no I am not yet old.
My intentions are yet bold!

Why bother my graying hair?
I have still a youthful air.

So what, if slow is my stride?
I have travelled far and wide.

My hands shake, yes, it is true,
My grip will yet surprise you.

Time may, my memory, warp,
But my reason is yet sharp.

No, no, I am not yet old.
No, my heart is not yet cold.

Though not bubbling with romance,
Gracefully I can yet dance.

Though it may be a bit late,
I am game yet for a date.

My breath may not be so long,
Yet I can sing you a song.

Though hazy may be my eye,
I can yet your beauty spy.

No, no I am not yet old.
You in arms I can yet hold!

My love is deep and mature.
Why can’t I be lover your?

Believe me that it is true,
I so want to be with you!

Maybe God had so ordained
That by you my heart be tamed!

Maybe to fulfil His will
Some day we may be one still.


16 November, 2003

* Written as rhyming couplets, seven syllables per line.
* Earlier posted as item no.778572, now deleted.


M C Gupta