Deja Vu Poem by Renu Rakheja a.k.a Tranquil Ocean

Ahhh...the same aroma
of the blossoming trees lining the street that I knew so well
The same house with that half broken wooden gate
which always made the same creaking noise when I swung on it
The old man with his snake headed stick
who would sit on the bench at sharp five pm and always nod at me
The ice cream man in that same monotone- chocolate, strawberry or vanilla?
Mom always calling out as I tried to slip out asking me to come back soon

It was so nice to be back.
Swinging the gate making the same creaking sound.
But everything wasnt the same.....
The old man didnt nod at me and just looked through
The ice cream man ignored me
Finally I reached home eagerly awaiting to give Mom a hug
She was watering the plants with a look of forlorn air
I went and stood behind her and touched her
After a while, the moments seeming like eternity to me...
She turned and pointed the hose at me.
Water drenched my body but I couldnt feel the wetness
And she walked away to the other corner of the garden