On The Wheelchair Poem by Valsa George
On The Wheelchair
The old man gazed at the sun about to set
And its molten core soon to dissolve in the sea
Scratching his head with tremulous hands
And running his fingers on the stubble of his unshaven face
He held once more tight to his wheelchair
Casually he had a glance at his hands
Those dry, weak and shriveled hands
Gone wrinkled with passing years!
His hands once so busy are now limp
His days once so brisk are now long and dull
He noticed the discolored patches on his skin
Under them the lattice of tortuous veins on the dorsum
They run down to join with the bigger ones
Like small rivulets flowing towards larger rivers
He remembered how the streams from summits
So vigorously come down with a gush
Also the noisy cataracts somersaulting down,
Leaving reverberating echoes all around
But they produce only a soft musical sound
As they join with the rivers and pass through plains
And finally end in a kind of hushed stillness
Just before merging with the sea!
The old man philosophized;
Life too, is like a river
Fierce and ferocious when one is young
Gentler and sedate after middle age
And slow and sloppy in old age
With this calm acceptance of the need to de accelerate
Wrapping himself in the shawl against the growing cold
He turned away from the window.
Pushing his wheelchair,
He moved forward,
Knowing no haste…..
Towards his bed for another night’s tired sleep!
A great poem from a great poetess. The old man philosophized; Life too, is like a river Fierce and ferocious when one is young Gentler and sedate after middle age And slow and sloppy in old age
Very philosophical and reflective of life per se. Wonderfully crafted beautiful write. Thank you for sharing.
Amazing read mam! Simile on human life is beautifully depicted.....
sad but fact - bitter truth - with age we have to accept these changes - you have so nicely described the veins in the hands to the small rivulets towards large rivers.
A powerful, poignant and beautiful poem. Touching lines that vividly described old age. The opening lines are so moving.Getting old is like the sun about to set. Liked the third stanza wherein the great Poetess likened life as a river. Simply amazing lines. Another excellent poem with great theme and imagery. Onto my Poem List.
Lively graphic description of an old man with his precise physical condition. His reflections about the life of a man from childhood to old age is truly akin to the various phases in the life of a river. Highly impressive and thought provoking. Profundity of following words is unsurpassed. veins on the dorsum...... Like small rivulets flowing towards larger rivers
I am not quite there yet but your poem written so clearly prompted me to have a look at my veins this is a great read and a great poem thanks Valsa_10
A great poem from your great pen, Valsa-ji. The images you have drawn and the parallel of river with the flow of life - simply beautiful. BTW, the gentleman on the wheelchair is a familiar face - who is he? (10)
Fantastic poem, Valsa! I have already voted it a ten and will now add it to my favorites list.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/24/2024 6:09:24 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Amazingly expressed, but a true summation of life.