THE PENULTIMATE DILEMMA

I must not go beyond sunset 
to discover the consciousness of night, 
Standing alone on a cliff 
I was ready to jump for salvation 
atoning for guilt of survival. 

My regret was time 
and timeless suffering. 
Where was the maturity of age? 
Mind must go for the beloved ones 
for a virginal touch of flawless blaze. 

They should have come to join the prayer 
not for me, but for the dying sun, 
and white valley of fears. 
Half my tongue sings for the shade 
and half I cry mutely.

Satish Verma