A little tight but as good as gold.

With creases here

and there

it revealed its story.

On the canvas of verdant hue

stands a boy in green, silent demanding attention

Embracing his tranquil presence

With his hand raised

Shoulders broad

An oath was due

An oath to the country

An oath to sacrifice

Standing under the sun

the boy expressed resilience

and commitment

to the journey he embarked on;

without a sign of hesitation

the train of words left the station of his mouth

Went through the mic-speaker intersection

and arrived to their destination

the audience’s ears.

A four-year-old's face stares back at me Expression blank, with eyes intense,

Lost in a world of happiness

A blurry figure, uncertain yet clear,

A moment frozen

What thoughts race behind that stare?

A mystery locked in time

In the silence of that fleeting moment,

A universe of possibilities to claim

No need for words, no need to explain,

Just my gaze

The day as if it were just yesterday.

Getting my Jerry costume ready, with my brother’s Tom

Getting to school as early as possible, to see my friends outfits

Looking at the various shades of ochre,

I reminisce the days when I

Could be carefree, watch the days pass by

Could sit idle and jollify

Looking at this photograph I recall,

My days as a child.

The pleading doe eyes, the expression of innocence

The times when everyone listened to me and I was glorified

I spy with my little eye

A photograph of me

And wonder about this little girl

Who I could never again be.

Accessories to pair,

A moment to celebrate.

In that moment, we all belonged…

Rust-red bricks line the walls with

Glossy green leaves in the bottom left corner,

A face looking away.

A sense of nostalgia prolonged…

Blurry, grainy, foggy,  with

Creases and tears all over,

A face hidden by a blemish.

A memory obscured…

A boy, around 6, stares back (at me) with no shame,

Beaming with happiness,

A mischievous gleam in his eyes, unknowing of the surrounding madness.

Behind him ran the circuit’s winding turn,

Where the cars dance at speeds, their engines burn.

But as a mere spectator, he stands unmoved,

His eyes deep in wonder, not knowing the race was soon to be removed.

A fleeting memory captured in tiny dots,

In the frozen moment, the time which stops,

The lens captures his past,

Till this day, the racing world’s impressions cast.

I reminisce, the boy in that picture is me!

As innocent and gentle as can be.

The boy in the frame, forever preserved,

Amidst the racing world that he observed.

__________________________________________

_{(Context of Image: It was an F1 race that happened in India, on 27th October 2013. This was the last race to take place in India.)}

how quickly does time's pendulum sway?

Life went on,

so many memories are forever gone,

but no, not this one,

it sits there ; frozen in time,

moments that are ever sublime.

Grinning,

from joy the world was spinning.

The younger me gave a toothy smile,

and forgot about all worries just for a while.

From one photo, you can feel the love,

and so you send a prayer for the ones above.

my sweet dog; gone but never truly,

for in this photograph; i can always feel the warmth between you and me.

fly high,

as long as i have this photo, it's never truly goodbye.

And it speaks a thousand words,

About my times of glory,

In the world of 64 squares.

A prodigy, a genius

I was deemed by all who saw

The elegance of my strategies

Leaving entire crowds in awe.

This photograph shows me in my element.

Unbothered, with a swagger to match it,

Immersed in the little world

Where everything went right for me.

But alas this could not last, as

My mountain of progress

Suddenly hit its summit.

All around me peaks were rising,

Shooting up to skies unexplored,

Climbing higher and higher and

Finally, leaving me out of sight.

Nevertheless, I plant my flag,

The hills below applaud

I look down and am proud,

Of all the obstacles I’ve cleared.

_{In fields of gold, she danced with glee}

_{A little girl so bold and free.}

_{Her spirit soared, her heart aflame,}

_{She never thought she'd bear shame.}

_{Her voice once strong, now low,}

_{As insecurity starts to grow.}

_{She wonders where her strength has gone,}

_{Lost amidst the shadows drawn.}

_{However, winds of doubt may blow}

_{She'll find her footing, she'll still grow.}

_{For deep within, she knows her worth,}

_{A little girl of strength and mirth.}