The Best Part of the Day is When the day is about to be over

By Poulami Ghosh

The best part of the day is when the day is about to be over,

when we are about to sleep,

when I, see you brush your teeth and comb your hair,

and wear my perfume before you come to bed.

This little performance you do, puts me so much at ease.

You make me feel it's only for me.

I feel special

as if am in the front row.

It’s indeed a special show,

with clowns, acrobats and jugglers

all in my bed.

You clowning up at the drop of a hat

with those puns and witty jibes.

You getting all bendy with those ideas,

and with your urge for those giant leaps of faith.

And finally you juggling sleep and love.

Oh ! What a hypnotizing show you put on every night.

I applaud and sometimes I cry because of the overwhelming staging.

I love the showmanship you bring to bed every night.

You never slip, you never trip, you never drop,

even if you do, you make it seem as a part of the act.

You intrigue me, you entertain me, you make me crave for more.

Yes, the show must go on and on and on

Night after night I have witnessed this spectacle.

This gala display of charm and skill.

I am too used to this jamboree now.

My nights are not solemn anymore;

my nights are boisterous and exuberant.

My nights don’t usher any mornings;

my nights herald anticipation for the next night.

But,

My nights are not young,

they are very old.

Old , and wise,

and they know that the show will end someday.

When the clowns will be grim,

and the acrobats will be hurting,

and the jugglers will drop a thing or two,

what then?

I will read a book.

Where I am the clown, acrobat and juggler.

I will make myself laugh.

I will take that big leap,

and I, will juggle all the worlds.

And then the night will be young.

Young,

but impatient

To end the show.

To get out of my costume and go meet my lover.

Joylessly, I will say to myself-

“This is not my circus.”

I did it because I had to do it.

I will realise that I always wanted to just watch a show,

and say out loud- “I wish I was a part of this.”

while secretly wishing just the opposite.

I want my clowns, acrobats and jugglers back.

“But we are tired..” they say.

“Does that mean..” I mumble,

with sadness welling up in my eyes-

“That the show is over?”

And they whisper-

“The magician is yet to perform”

By Poulami Ghosh