This poem explores the delicate moment between life and death, when the soul finally stands face-to-face with the truth the living often avoid.
As the body prepares to turn into ash, the soul asks a single, piercing question—Did you truly live?
It is a journey from endings to beginnings, from sorrow to self-rebirth.
Before I Turn to Ashes
My final breath
slipped out quietly—
so quietly
I couldn’t beg for one more moment.
Time stood still,
yet refused to offer
even a heartbeat more.
My mortal body
lay upon the pyre,
flames waiting
to claim what was left of me.
Some wept with truth,
some with hollow sympathy,
and those who never cared
finally found words
I no longer needed.
In the fading warmth
that clung to my skin,
my soul stood beside me—
closer than any living hand
had ever been.
It touched
my dimming face
and whispered,
“Did you live your life?”
My body trembled
and answered,
“Perhaps… yes…”
but the words wavered
like smoke.
My soul smiled,
soft, knowing,
and asked again—
“Really?
What did you do for me?
Did you ever choose yourself?
Did you ever protect your own heart?
Did you smile
for your own joy,
even once?”
Silence spilled
between us,
a silence
the living never hear.
What remains now
is not their tears,
not their love,
not their indifference—
only a small pile of regrets
pressing against a chest
that will soon be dust.
Even one true moment
lived for myself
could have changed everything.
But this is not the end—
not for the soul.
As the body
breaks into embers,
the journey stretches forward,
asking to begin again.
I must return—
to correct myself,
to choose myself,
to truly live.
So I rise
from my own ashes
with a vow unspoken—
I will be reborn,
and this time,
I will live for me.
(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: kavita
Retiredकलम 
I didn’t read , delete it and please don’t write anything like this Verma Ji, you are extremely precious for us , for me, and turning to ashes aisa kuch bhi mat likhe please
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Thank you for saying that with so much sincerity. It truly touched me. 🙏
I understand your concern, and I promise — I will never write anything that upsets you or carries such imagery again. Your comfort, your trust, and your respect mean a great deal to me, and I value them deeply.
Aapka स्नेह aur aapki भावना mere liye bahut maayne rakhti hain.
Thank you for caring so genuinely. 🌼
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I haven’t still read & I will not. None of us should say such things to one another here. Life is exquisite despite many around us who are bent to spoil our zeal or zest for it. We must ignore all such nasty our own or distant but near ones and lead our life looking at each other here
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You’re absolutely right, and thank you for saying this with such clarity and care.
Life truly is exquisite, and none of us should dim our own light—or anyone else’s—by speaking in ways that weigh the heart down.
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No no you didn’t try to dim my light or anyone else’s light dear. You wrote a beautiful post on topic you felt important but the topic on which you wrote should not be the topic in your life so early, I wanted to say that, so I said. You have always shown brighter side of life and so one bad moment cannot change you this much
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Thank you for saying that — it truly means a lot. I understand what you’re trying to tell me, and I appreciate the care behind your words. Sometimes a difficult thought or moment passes through the mind, and writing becomes a way to process it, not a reflection of who I am at my core.
You’re right: one dark moment doesn’t erase the brighter side, and it certainly doesn’t define my life. If anything, it reminds me why the light matters so much. Thank you for seeing that in me, and for reminding me with such kindness. Your words uplift more than you know.
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Beautiful poem ✌️i don’t know if there is any rebirth but if it is then I also want to reborn
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Thank you so much for your kind words! ✨
As for rebirth — none of us truly know, but the desire to return, to love again, to experience life with a renewed heart… that feeling itself is beautiful. It means your soul still hopes, still believes, still longs for meaning.
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Very nice
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Thank you so much.
Your words mean a lot.
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Verma ji, this is a truly profound and moving piece of work. You have captured the inescapable, intimate dialogue at the threshold of existence with remarkable clarity and emotional power. The poem’s strength lies in its quiet authority—the “slipped out” breath, the “wavering” answer, the “soft, knowing” smile of the soul—all building to that devastating, universal silence “the living never hear.”
The transition from the physical pyre to the spiritual reckoning is seamless, and the soul’s specific, piercing questions—”Did you ever choose yourself?”—shift the poem from mere reflection into a powerful manifesto for self-honor. The resolution is not an end, but a magnificent beginning: the vow to rise from one’s own ashes is an image of breathtaking hope and determination.
This is more than a poem; it is a meditation and a reawakening. Thank you for sharing this beautiful journey from regret to rebirth. It resonates deeply.🌷🤝
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I am deeply moved by your response. Your words capture the essence of what I aimed to express—the intimate,
often unspoken dialogue of the soul and the quiet power of choosing oneself.
Knowing that the poem resonated with you as both a meditation and a journey of hope makes sharing it truly worthwhile.
Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt reflection—it adds a beautiful depth to the work. 🌷🙏
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Verma ji, this is a truly profound and moving piece of work. You have captured the inescapable, intimate dialogue at the threshold of existence with remarkable clarity and emotional power. The poem’s strength lies in its quiet authority—the “slipped out” breath, the “wavering” answer, the “soft, knowing” smile of the soul—all building to that devastating, universal silence “the living never hear.”
The transition from the physical pyre to the spiritual reckoning is seamless, and the soul’s specific, piercing questions—”Did you ever choose yourself?”—shift the poem from mere reflection into a powerful manifesto for self-honor. The resolution is not an end, but a magnificent beginning: the vow to rise from one’s own ashes is an image of breathtaking hope and determination.
This is more than a poem; it is a meditation and a reawakening. Thank you for sharing this beautiful journey from regret to rebirth. It resonates deeply.
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I am truly touched by your words. Your thoughtful reading captures the essence of what I hoped to convey—the quiet
yet profound journey from reflection to self-realization.
It means a great deal to know that the poem resonated with you so deeply and that the message of hope and renewal came through.
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to share your insight; your appreciation adds another layer of meaning to the work.
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Verma ji, a profoundly moving piece — tender, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. It captures the quiet truth of self-reflection with remarkable depth. Truly impressed by every line.
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Thank you so much for your generous words. I’m truly humbled that the piece resonated with you in such a meaningful way. Writing about self-reflection is always delicate, and knowing that you felt the depth and honesty in it makes the effort worthwhile.
Your appreciation adds its own quiet encouragement, and I’m grateful for that.
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Absolutely love it. A true description of the soul.
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Thank you so much — that truly means a lot.
If the poem felt like an honest reflection of the soul to you, then its purpose is fulfilled. Some truths can only be spoken in the language of poetry, and it’s wonderful to know those lines resonated with your inner world.
Your appreciation adds a quiet warmth to the work — thank you for reading it with such depth and openness.
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This poem demonstrates extraordinary courage in tackling the most profound and challenging subject , the ultimate moment of self-reckoning.
I just love it.
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Your words truly touch me. Thank you for seeing the courage behind the poem and for recognising the depth of that moment of self-reckoning. It means a great deal to know that the piece resonated with you so strongly.
I’m grateful for your kindness—and your appreciation encourages me to keep writing with honesty and heart.
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This is a journey into the unknown and not unlike a travel or adventure.
Tomorrow we know about death more we don’t know about death . What a beautiful examination.
I went to the library the other day and picked up a few books of poetry .
I can’t say, I understand it, but I enjoy it
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Thank you so much for sharing this, and for reading the poem with such openness. You’re absolutely right—this theme is a journey into the unknown, much like any great adventure where half the path is visible and the rest is mystery.
We know a little about death, but far more remains beyond the edges of our understanding, and exploring that space through poetry can be strangely comforting.
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NOW is the key for Notion Of Wholeness then neither question nor answer , just oneness .love all
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Beautifully said — now really is the doorway to wholeness.
When we’re fully present, everything softens: the need to explain, defend, question,
or even seek. What remains is simple, spacious oneness — a quiet awareness that connects rather than separates.
Thank you for sharing such a gentle and insightful truth.
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Sometimes life tests us and makes us realized to live fully compared to the past. This is a poem with a second chance theme. Lovely, Verma.
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Thank you so much — that means a lot.
You’re absolutely right: life has a way of teaching us what truly matters, often through the hardest lessons.
A second chance doesn’t just change our path; it deepens our understanding of ourselves.
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Thank you so much for your beautiful reflection. 🌿
Life truly does test us, and sometimes those difficult moments are what open the door to a fuller, deeper way of living.
If the poem conveyed even a hint of that “second chance” spirit, I’m grateful it reached you.
Your kind words encourage me more than you know — thank you for reading with such sensitivity and heart. 🙏✨
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very nice
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Thank you so much.
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What a powerful and inspiring poem!
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