A Parting Gift to the Beautiful World

 

I found this just shed hibiscus

lying helpless on the earth,

I picked it up and placed it on my table,

I don’t know why.

Suddenly I noticed the sunrays

tiptoeing from the behind

and playfully tickling

the faded, sad looking flower.

The friendly touch, sort of ignited

a spark…cheer, and

the hibiscus, in its last stage,

could not suppress a beaming,

sparkling smile, as a parting gift to

the beautiful world it was leaving behind.

I feel, I don’t know why, we humans too

could follow the flower’s sweet gesture,

by way of gratitude for

all we got from this lovely world.

**********

Ashok Misra