My Father Looked Older Today

At the station full of crowd,

There he stood.

In the midst of all those rushing bodies,

All the way I looked.

At first, I didn't know it was him,

But I knew that shirt well

It was hard to miss,

Oh yes, I had seen it since childhood.

And shirts don't change, even when the bodies of the wearer do.

Torn they may get, they may fade, yes,

But seldom they change the way men do.

Unlike his shirt, he had changed a lot,

His hair had become whiter,

His skin darker

The lines on his forehead were now visibly clear,

Hands on his hips,

He was looking around for me,

For I was nowhere near.

I ran towards him and finally got a closer look,

His eyes were too tired,

But that wide smile, it took away my breath.

I couldn't help but notice,

The way he walked.

His back was now slightly slumped,

And in between sighs, he talked.

I wanted to rest my head on his shoulders

Just like old times,

But I was aware of his aching limbs,

Even if he wouldn't tell.

I wanted him to stay longer with me,

But he had another train to catch.

He had to go to work on Monday, so did I.

And Mondays cannot wait.

So we were together for just a few hours,

Before he bid me goodbye.

I stood and watched him go,

Until I could no longer bear.

Ran back to my room immediately then,

To shed my tears.

Now as I sit in this empty room,

Staring at these walls,

I imagine the next time I would get to see him,

How fast will the time pass?

Will his hair become whiter still?

Will his back get more slumped?

Will his skin go darker?

And those lines on the forehead,

Would they become even more visible?

I stop my mind from going there,

But still, I know it in my heart.

That after a time these questions will change,

And get replaced by a single one,

Will I see him again?

To get my mind off these dreadful thoughts,

I think about the reasons

That I left home in the first place.

Beautiful alive city,

Exotic people and places,

And of course my own paycheck,

An identity and a life.

But deep inside, a question hits hard.

Of course, I won't ever ask loud.

Is this all worth it?