The Counting Days

At this threshold of life,
we have come to stand,
the days already spent
have become many,
while the days left
keep growing fewer.

Whether our age has increased
or has diminished—
the mathematics of this
is very difficult.
Lost in these thoughts,
the days of people like me,
the elderly, pass by.

That we must leave this world
is certain,
but the time and the path
are unknown.
When, where, and how
we shall depart—
even that we do not know.

The news of someone’s departure
does not disturb us anymore;
it is the pain of being left behind
that hurts us more.

“When will my number come?”
Sometimes it feels
as though God has forgotten me.
Now even my hands and feet
have become lifeless
and hang helplessly.

When someone asks,
“How are you feeling?”
I seem to hear another question:
“How much longer
do you have left to live here?”

When will you set out
on the endless journey?
The younger ones have already gone,
while you have remained sitting here,
spending so many days.

What can I say?
Nothing is in our hands.
Life and death are not ours to decide.
There is no garland to break
and simply walk away somewhere.

Whatever breaths
have been given to us,
we must breathe them all.
But how shall we ever know
how many breaths
are left in our count?

Whenever You wish, O Lord,
take us away.
Release us from this
frail and weary body.
Whatever sins and virtues
we may have committed,
now carry us across
the ocean of worldly existence.

Vidya