Children, Children! - Vanita Shukla Hork

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.

Advent of Spring by Kusum Shukla — (c) Kusum Shukla Advent of Spring

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.

Children, Children!

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17 thoughts on “Children, Children!”

Birte Lundgreen
February 8, 2022 at 5:33 pm

Beautiful ❤️
- Vanita HorkPost author
  February 8, 2022 at 8:29 pm
  
  Thank you so much, Birte 🙏
- Eshelle Butler
  June 1, 2022 at 8:43 pm
  
  Beautiful poem.
  - Vanita HorkPost author
    June 1, 2022 at 11:27 pm
    
    Thank you so much, Eshelle 🙏
Vibeke
February 8, 2022 at 6:20 pm

Beautiful, beautiful poem, Vanita. You are so talented and expressive. It is a great enjoyment to read. ❤️ Love your Mother’s painting, too.
- Vanita HorkPost author
  February 8, 2022 at 8:30 pm
  
  Thank you so much, Vibeke! It means a lot to me to hear this 🙏
VC
February 9, 2022 at 10:20 am

Absolutely beautiful
- Vanita HorkPost author
  February 16, 2022 at 12:08 am
  
  Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it 🙏
Manjit Singh Parwana
June 2, 2022 at 1:14 pm

Deep and meaningful. I’m grateful that you took time to share it with us.
- Vanita HorkPost author
  June 3, 2022 at 1:12 am
  
  Thank you so much, Manjitji and most welcome 🙏
John K
June 4, 2022 at 4:13 am

A sad truth well framed!
John K
June 4, 2022 at 4:13 am

A sad truth well framed!
- Vanita HorkPost author
  June 4, 2022 at 9:00 pm
  
  Thank you so much, John, perhaps that is why it resonated with my late father 🙏
Raven Kamali
June 4, 2022 at 3:11 pm

So much feelings in this poem. Loved it.
- Vanita HorkPost author
  June 4, 2022 at 9:05 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Raven, this was also one of my late father’s favourite poems 🙏
Jkushki
February 8, 2024 at 11:28 pm

Thanks for depicting every man’s regret so beautifully 🙏🌹
- Vanita HorkPost author
  February 9, 2024 at 12:11 am
  
  Thank you so much, I’m truly honoured 🙏🌷

17 thoughts on “Children, Children!”

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