I dedicate this very raw poem to my 1983 batchmates of Lady Irwin Sr Sec School. Anyone of my batchmates who criticizes this, gets to write another one! Others, feel free to critique it! Rob, you came up with a perfect prompt which made my adrenalin flow at the right time. Thanks!
twenty five years-
is it not too long
to get reacquainted
how do we recognise
each from the other
presuming we became
from giggly school girls
to responsible women
with character lines
wobbling tummies
sagging eyes, a child
or two tagging behind.
from pencil thin jeans
to baggy hideous clothes
reading stupid romances
to juggling financial figures
where do we start
where do we end
do I need to be reminded
of my stupid mistakes
or silly immature dreams
or my puppy fat
always hungry look
short of money
in the torn pockets-
those fights over notes
never over guys
snooty to boot
basketball scored high
much better than those
neighbourhood school boys
sharing of tears
over adolescent fears
a single pimple
brought us to the brink
secrets shared in the midst
of doing math sums
only a miniscule of what
I want to convey
yes, I wish for a second chance
to bring back those memories
and having done that-
make new ones.
batch of '83- come, let us be together.
Simply lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful poem. I love the imagery.
ReplyDeleteExcellent use of the prompt, makes twenty-five years seem seamless.
ReplyDeleteRose
xo
now im afraid to grow old. lol, just kidding of course. hehe, thanks for putting a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteperhaps i will have the same feeling soon, longing for the times i played with my classmates :-)
really liked this
ReplyDeletethank you
my "silly immature dreams" are - i'm pleased to say - mostly still with me :)
Rose: 25 years is nothing between friends.
ReplyDeletetotomai: why should aging bother you? It gives us maturity too.
Thanks steve, Jane and floots.
Sometimes getting together with those we were once close with can be wonderful sometimes that second chance isn't always what is should be.
ReplyDeleteI think its rawness works for it, Gautami. But then, I hated high school and most of the people I was there with.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the one I grew up and married.
I have good news for you. The opportunity to relive your 'second childhood' is just around the corner.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I plan to right the wrongs of my past. I fully intend to reclaim my youth with fervent gusto and to great aplomb from my inner child...
although my harried, fellow, inmates and the exasperated caregivers in the institution may have an alternate view of my exploits.
HA! Who said that you never get a second chance at a first impression.
((pffft))
who doesn't want to go back to their childhood or younger days? Its odd how people trend to drift apart sometimes but there is always the second chance.
ReplyDelete50 years on . . .
ReplyDeletelooking for old friends
on name tags
Quite wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI know my reunions would be really messed up. Which of the many schools would I go to? I've been to so many and none really mean anything to me.
I love this one as you didn't murder anyone. Are you getting soft?
ReplyDeleteThe brash youth is so appealing in this poem!
ReplyDeleteNice write!
Enjoyed this. Two times of life balanced perfectly in words.
ReplyDeletethis truly has a great voice and tone...something all will eventually identify with. :)
ReplyDeletescot
i really enjoyed this one... i felt it alive with human feelings,, longings,, and a deep desire to rekindle that friendship.....
ReplyDeleteI'd jump at the chance to relive some of my younger years, and to change some of them, but to return to high school? Never. I had some wonderful times those years, but they had very little to do with my classmates.
ReplyDeleteYour love for your school chums shines through though Gautami, and I'm glad for it.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's simply great.
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem!
ReplyDeleteNice. Really nice, G.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I think many of us can identify with old angst and a yearning for a re-start. Great read!
ReplyDeleteI really loved this! I've got my twenty year reunion coming up this summer and have been mulling over these same emotions, which you articulate so nicely.
ReplyDeleteI really like the rawness of the poem and am impressed that one of us is so talented and i think you shl just paste it on the site .what do you say keep up the gud work..........
ReplyDeleteI hope I could write something like this for my batchmates in college, I had better times in college than highschool, and we are more connected. I really wish I could come up with a poem before our next reunion.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is inspiring.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
You captured the old schooldays so well. Oh how I remember agonising over a pimple. Uuughh. I couldn't relive the old days again but I do miss some of the old friendships.
ReplyDeleteWonderful--gives us an insight into you as a student!
ReplyDeletei got such a chuckle out of your title; you could certainly see where this one was headed. ;-)
ReplyDeleteascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress
Ahh, the reunion jitters, before the oh-my-god screams of wide-eyed recognition of faces. It's a very real experience for anyone to remember and keep as a memory of reliving memories. ;) (I could so relate. Thank you. Reading this is a trip down memory lane in itself.)
ReplyDeleteEvery woman can relate this! Well done!
ReplyDeleteLovely, but I have to disagree. I wouldn't go back for the world!
ReplyDeletewhat a treasaure here...
ReplyDeleteren.kat, this is not about going back. This is about re-uniting with friends and relive all those memories.
ReplyDeletebrought back memories from my high school, I can't believe its already 10 years.
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderful tribute to your 'batchmates' and school years .Doesn't 25 years just zooom by? It is too scary!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why Gautami, I thought you were MUCh younger!
Rob's prompts always prove timely for me as well, I think he may have a crystal ball Gautami! haha
that flowed like a river...it's great to look back...have a couple of good laughs and move on to new ones...
ReplyDeletei hate class reunions but this is wonderfully written
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing back old memories come alive...all is so true !
ReplyDelete