The Making Of The Stranger Poem by Raj Arumugam

1
I was the child
eager at your table
My fingers on the edge
and my face on the back of my hands
And I was curious
to see what you were doing
And I said:
"I think I could do that;
I'd like to do that"

And you smiled
And you said:
"Maybe, one day;
You got to learn
You go to become
Meanwhile go and read
Go and become
and come back when you're done"



2
Do you remember? -
I did what you said
and I walked many a mile
I spent days and nights
I kept the candle workers alive
And I came back
and you smiled

And I said
"I could do that;
I'd like to do that"
And you smiled
I think it was a quizzical smile
a sphinx smile, a riddle smile
And you said:
"Go and become
And come back when you're done"



"But I'm done, "
I said
"I'm become"


But you smiled
and you spoke words
That flew like jets
that stood like marble columns
like the Palace of Whitehall
And you smiled
"You never become, "
you whispered to one another



3
Do you remember
the day you made me the stranger?
Do you remember you made me trade
an Eager face for one Tired and Wornout?
Do you remember
the days I tried
the days I returned? -
and you said:
"Go and become
And come back when you're done"
And you smiled
"You never become, "
you whispered to one another