***a Portrait Of A Poet And Painter Poem by RAJ NANDY

A PORTRAIT OF A POET
AND PAINTER!
Your face which was a finished portrait once,
Has turned into a sketch of withered and wavy
wrinkled lines!
The paints on your brush and pallet have faded
and dried!
And your lips devoid of the rose, neither glows
or shine!
But your love for the posy can never be denied!
A rich silvery crop now blossoms on your head,
And you rise at midnight to write in your bed!
With your pen dipped in moon’s golden glow,
Under the light of the stars at night, - you get
your rhythmic flow!
While your pupils like embers still burn bright,
Your frail garment hangs from your frame in the
middle of the night!
Your portraits and verses you now gift to posterity,
For them to compose their own - in continuity!
And when the soft pillow of Autumn invites you
to rest,
You float like a feather in a dream-like transience!

-Raj Nandy
15 Dec 09
New Delhi