Retracing My Footsteps

I want to go back to my past When tame pigeons of joy nested on my eaves And I could hear their crooning With the sweetness of love outpouring I want to go back to my past When innocent instincts ruled my heart And I ran after every call from the woods or bush Mesmerized by the whistles of the oriole and the thrush I want to go back to my past When every rainbow and every peacock feather Ignited curiosity in me as a child And coloured my imagination wild I want to go back to my past When, with friends, I sat in the mango grove And savoured the ripe juicy mangoes Careful not to let the pulp drip down our mouths I want to go back to my past When we strolled along the sandy strands Watching the wild waves' fray And cooled by the kiss of spray I want to go back to my past When we had watched at night A hundred fireflies dancing around the *neem Wondering if they were stars fallen from heaven’s seam I want to go back to my past When, like breeze, we ran over the meadows Looking for the bleating lamb Singing in chorus, ‘Mary had a little lamb’ I want to go back to my past When life appears a trying test With ‘the slings and arrows of an outrageous fortune’ And when I feel so desperately alone!