This poem reflects the quiet emotions we often hide behind everyday smiles—the dreams we postpone, the fears that hold us back, and the small inner voice that never stops calling us toward what we truly love.
It gently reminds us that it is never too late to listen to ourselves and begin again.
# Not Too Late #
I laughed out loud, but deep inside,
A quieter heart still softly cried.
I did what life asked me to do,
Left some old dreams half-way through.
I waited long, I stayed afraid,
Put hopes away, the plans I made.
Yet still a voice won’t let me be,
It whispers low, “Come back to me.”
Maybe time has not shut the gate,
Maybe dreams don’t die—they wait.
(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: kavita, Uncategorized
Retiredकलम 
Beautifully understated and deeply human.
The poem captures the silent dialogue between duty and desire the smiles we show the world and the dreams we keep waiting inside.
The closing lines are especially moving, reminding us that time does not erase true dreams; it only asks for courage. A gentle, hopeful piece that lingers long after reading
-Vijay Srivastava
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Thank you so much for this thoughtful and generous reflection.
I’m truly moved that the poem resonated with you in that way.
You’ve captured its heart beautifully—the quiet tension between responsibility and longing,
and the hope that courage can still find us.
I’m grateful you took the time to read so closely and share what stayed with you.
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I did what life asked me to do,
Left some old dreams half-way through.
I see a man in a cowboy hat singing this in a half filled bistro.
Envoking a vision.
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What a vivid image you’ve created — those lines feel like a quiet confession set to music.
I can almost see that man in the cowboy hat, carrying both the weight of the past and a gentle acceptance of it, singing to a room that’s listening without knowing why. There’s something beautifully human in that moment.
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Even our young dreams can be realized during retirement years. This is a true poem brims with hope, Verma.
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Absolutely! Dreams don’t have an expiration date, and your poem beautifully reminds us that life always holds room for new beginnings and fulfilled wishes, no matter the age. ✨💛
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