&in Remambrance

It’s my sister’s birthday today, She left us three decades away. We watched her lying on her hospital bed, And slowly right before our eyes she was dead. Her face looked serene and free of pain, Though it was drawn and drained. The memory of her last breath, As she slipped into the arms of death, After so many years still fresh in my mind. She was so vivacious, gentle and kind. I feel it was only yesterday When in the morning, on our way To the school in a cycle rickshaw, We would play pranks unmindful of who saw.. Though we had lots of tiffs and fights We normally made up by the night. We shared and, talked about our first crush, I still remember how she blushed. As she told me about a guy Who made her happy she felt like to cry. She has been gone for so long I still wonder what went wrong Does time really heal? Is it enough to live on memories? Nobody can take her place I still remember her beautiful face The secrets we shared at midnight, And our light banter and pillow fights At times I feel wistful Wouldn’t it have been beautiful? Reminiscing about our childhood, Our fights, midnight feasts and moods I am still overcome with nostalgia and grief, Am glad had her, though her sojourn was brief. filial love and bond is one of a kind that sort of camaraderie is rare to find. she is stiil twenty something in my mind's eye young, spirited, with a zest for life - my best ally. 25.09.08 Mamta