A poem of longing for a father by Mohini, exclusively for Different Truths.

A father I wanted
A guardian brave and daunting
Just like him, just like
The one who's no more.
 
He had diseases in his bones
But was tough for his most robust core
Eyes sparkling like pearls, brighter
Than a young bride's glow.
 
I met him only for a short period
Saw him chained to oxygen cylinders,
But he wasn't morbid
Smiling through it all, a true hero.
 
He took his daughter's hand
And both began to love seamless grand
A provider of heart, a shield for his family,
Even in his weak mould.
 
Why can't my father be like that?
Or why can't I be this man's daughter?
Why had he to go in such youthful old?

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Mohini Awasthi

Mohini Awasthi, a 24-year-old poet from Lucknow, has completed her graduation and post-graduation from the University of Lucknow. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in English from Indira Gandhi National Open University. In the poems, she attempts to capture the social sadness that the world has presented to her. She is on her way to understanding this world and its nuances. Her writings vent her bitter-sweet life.