This poem, written at age 15, mourns the loss of childhood. It was one of my late father, Ramesh Chandra Shukla’s favourite poems. The painting is by my mother, the artist Kusum Shukla. Compare this poem to The Hour of Nativity, written in 1983 on my 16th birthday.
Oh, children, children!
Make me a child once more
So that I may
Feel happiness again –
And discover Life
With new eyes
And be delighted
By all that surrounds me.
Children, children!
Go out and play!
Laugh with your souls
And smile with your eyes –
For the Gates
Of the Kingdom of Childhood
Once closed
Never open again
And those who leave
Will never come back.
Oh, children –
How I long
To play with you
To be a little girl
Once more.
But not for me
Are those sights
Of sheer beauty –
I am a woman now.
Children, children –
Flee!
Escape these shackles
And bonds of Fate
Escape the misery
That darkens the soul –
Run while you can!
But there is nowhere to go.
Alas, children –
You will grow up
Someday
And you will leave
The Kingdom.
Then your feet
No longer little
Will wearily tread
The journey of Life –
They will hurt
But you will not
Be able to stop.
And when the Gates
Close behind you
You will look back
And sigh
And like me
Maybe even cry –
“Children, children, let me in!”
But there is no return.
Never.
Oh, children –
There is no escape
From Life.
Vanita Shukla Hork, 1983
If you liked this poem, you will enjoy my book Memories from another Lifetime: Pain. Available on Amazon, free on KindleUnlimited. Please do leave a review.
Beautiful ❤️
Thank you so much, Birte 🙏
Beautiful poem.
Thank you so much, Eshelle 🙏
Beautiful, beautiful poem, Vanita. You are so talented and expressive. It is a great enjoyment to read. ❤️ Love your Mother’s painting, too.
Thank you so much, Vibeke! It means a lot to me to hear this 🙏
Absolutely beautiful
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it 🙏
Deep and meaningful. I’m grateful that you took time to share it with us.
Thank you so much, Manjitji and most welcome 🙏
A sad truth well framed!
A sad truth well framed!
Thank you so much, John, perhaps that is why it resonated with my late father 🙏
So much feelings in this poem. Loved it.
Thanks so much, Raven, this was also one of my late father’s favourite poems 🙏
Thanks for depicting every man’s regret so beautifully 🙏🌹
Thank you so much, I’m truly honoured 🙏🌷