Too Late to Understand the Reality वास्तविकता का एहसास होने में बहुत देर हो चुकी है।
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
Cut out my shadow.
Free me from the torture
of seeing myself fruitless.
~ Lorca, “Song of the Barren Orange Tree” (“Canción del Naranjo seco”)
When you bring prayers and flowers to my grave,
I’ll be dead. Fragrance of the blossoms will
Refuse to reach me underground. That cave
Provides an entrance but no soul can spill
Out from it, no, not even for your prayers.
I certainly will not see paleness of
White roses. I will not have bloodline heirs
To come and kneel to signal late-borne love.
If I am burned instead of buried, you
Will not be able to turn ashes back
To flesh. Whatever you and I both grew
As one, might whisper from that cul de sac.
Today you might do things for me, right now,
Instead of coming then to make a bow.
~ Phillip Whidden