Hide and Seek - Part 3 - Rhyming & Non Rhyming Poems by Nikhil Parekh - HTML preview

18. THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH

The man in the photograph didn’t withdraw air from surrounding,

While I breathed several times a single minute.

The man in the photograph didn’t laugh at a hilarious joke,

While I burst into volleys of laughter at mention of the slightest satire.

The man in the photograph didn’t feel at all thirsty,

While I couldn’t suffice without water for more than an hour.

The man in the photograph wore an impeccable white shirt; devoid of creases,

While the garments that fitted my body were with blotches of stain and grease.

The man in the photograph didn’t budge a fraction of an inch,

While I tossed and turned with growing spurts of overwhelming restlessness.

The man in the photograph was clad in threadbare clothes even in chilly winter,

While I draped my persona with furry covers of pure sheepskin wool.

The man in the photograph never developed shabby stubble of beard,

While I shaved my skin scrupulously twice in a single day.

The man in the photograph didn’t sweat drops of pungent perspiration,

While I shed water from my armpits every unfolding second in the sun.

The man in the photograph didn’t sit for years on the trot,

While I needed to rest occasionally on the ergonomically sculptured leather pouch.

The man in the photograph didn’t expurgate his bowels,

While I made frequent journeys to the bathroom after devouring plum juice

and water.

The man in the photograph didn’t cough when tickled by pigeon feather,

While I erupted into an earth shattering sneeze when struck by cold.

The man in the photograph was holistically phlegmatic,

While I was full of volatile energy; ready to plunge into the sea of adventure.

The man in the photograph had black hair since times immemorial.

While I had acquired grizzly streaks of white with the onset of age.

The man in the photograph didn’t struggle to earn money,

While I worked at frantic pace to make my livelihood.

As a matter of fact; the man in the photograph had died decades ago,

And I was still living ;all set to change the complexion of this earth.