Damn Me: A Poem by Rusen Kumar: Ashamed!

Why does God

Bestow me with such favours?

Gives me yet another day,

So that I may do something worthwhile

What does he expect from me?

As he keeps giving me one more day, every day.

I feel ashamed,

I feel guilty

As I did not utilize the day, he bestowed upon me

Damn I

I wasted yesterday

Like l put the sacred Ganges water in the drain

Like I broke the only earthen pot for water, at home

Like I trampled upon a beautiful flower

Wasted yet another day!

Damn I, Damn I

Did not do anything worthwhile

I just wasted the day

Could not appreciate the value

Of such precious time

Even if no massive work

At least I could have done, something

However little

But it was not to be

Damn I, I feel ashamed!

I could have read some literature

I could have penned down some prose

I could have learnt something, anything

Could have tried my land at humming a song

I could have attempted making something new

Could have decorated the house

Or tried my hand at a musical instrument

But I did not do anything

Perhaps on purpose, or sheer laziness?

Wasted the precious time

Damn I, I am ashamed!

***

The poem is authored by Rusen Kumar. The poem first published in Hindi. 

Translation by Arun Arora, a renowned communication professional, who is fond of reading, writing, and learning, all the time.

(Note: Please take author’s permission to reproduce this unique story in the newspaper or web-mediums. The request may be sent to rusenk@indiacsr.in)