For Vishesh and Ayush
They say don’t dwell on the past,
But how can I resist when I think of you—
Your childhood soft and fragile,
Dependent, small, and gazing up at me
Like I was a giant in your world.
I remember how you’d wait at school,
Eyes wide, unsure if I’d come,
The fear when I argued,
The trust you placed so easily in my hands,
Not knowing if I’d ever let you down.
And you, my other son, still innocent,
Still trusting in life’s open arms,
Carrying your childhood with you,
Into the days of grown-up worries and dreams.
Even when you falter,
When your human frailties show,
I still see the little boys you were,
And how can I not live in those moments?
How can I not love you both,
While living in the past?
