People come into our lives and leave in the blink of an eye, yet they always leave something with us!
This, for me, was one such person. I wrote this on 7th November 2021
THE SHUFFLER
He shuffles
Head bowed and
Perched on his spine
like a tern on a cliff's edge.
His feet slide
Left, right, left, right
Following each other-
Like penguins on ice-
Across the smooth floor of the building.
He looks like a penguin
There is the same laborious
Attitude in his movement.
I look at his face.
It's a face gentle and worn from living
Ruddied from a lifetime
Toiling in all weathers
Wise with the wisdom
Only age can bestow.
I want to ask him to stay
And tell me about his life
But he is so intent
On his shuffling
I don't think
He would hear me.
So I watch
As he shuffles
Onwards
Into his life.
Into his distance.