Pebbles

By Amita Grover

As a child,

I collected pebbles from the riverside

and tied them in my dress

smooth, rounded,river pebbles

I played with them, counting them

took them home

Kept them hidden in my belongings

It was my treasure.... my memories

As age creeped in I emptied my box

I threw away the river pebbles I loved

one by one without counting them

I sat on a Rock nearby recollecting old times

watching the waves

A carefree little girl watched me intently

She came forward

picked up the pebbles I had thrown,

Waiting for my reaction

I watched her intently ..smiling

I was watching the overlapping waves

She sat on the sand counting the pebbles

six seven, eight,nine

Hey' I called 'what will u do with them'

She quickly put them near her chest with hands

holding like a baby

I ll play with them take them home

But you have so many toys at home

Last pebble was still in my wrinkled hand

still my possession.

I threw the last one towards her.

She quickly grabbed it

Looked at me with her innocent brown eyes

When I get bored I ll throw them.

I whispered to myself with moist eyes

and another little girl will come pick them

She didn't hear me and started running towards her mother

A gushing wave came cleared

the footmarks without any trace on the sand

By Amita Grover