I hunch over,
My torn dress looming,
Over my crossed legs,
On the bare gravel!

I lean back,
On the chipped and broken wall,
My head bends over, unfathomably,
And, I sing-
'Come by me now, young 'un,
Listen now- don't make
the same mistakes I did...'

My fingers- more bone than flesh,
Nimbly slide across the guitar strings,
Twanging to make a tune!

***

I lean back,
On the chipped and broken wall,
And imagine another life- a fantasy,
And all the things I should have done...                                                                                   

I remember that time when
Mama told me
'Child, you're different-
Do make the best of your life,
Don't let them laugh at you!'
And, I scoffed,
Wondering how a blind boy could
Make a living, make a home...

Then, I imagine
What could have been-
Me- in a lordly attire,
In the arms of my lady and a boy and girl-                                                                          A living of my own- a home of my own

***

I lean back,
My head bends over, unfathomably,
And, I sing again-
'Come by me now, young 'un,
Listen now- don't make
the same mistakes I did...
Don't lean back on a chipped and broken wall,
When you're old and grey,
And think of the things
you should have done, 
and the challenges you should've overcome-                                                                  when you were still a young 'un!                                                                                          Don't make the same mistakes I did!'