A poem about aging, risk, regret, and resilience. It expresses the thoughts of someone who has faced difficulties and emotions but still chooses growth over comfort and life over fear.

# Before Death Comes #

There comes an age
when you stop pretending
every decision felt right.

I have walked into rooms
that disturbed my peace,
taken risks that left me awake at night,
and smiled through regrets
I could never explain to anyone.

But still—
I would rather bruise my pride
than let my spirit rust in comfort.

At this age,
I no longer fear embarrassment.
I fear becoming still.

So I tested the rivers of life—
cold rivers,
deep rivers,
rivers that stole my certainty
and returned me to myself.

Sometimes, life feels unbearably heavy.
Sometimes, strangely beautiful.
And if I embarrass myself,
let it mean I tried.

Because death will come only once—
but before then,
I intend to live
a thousand difficult, beautiful lives.

(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com

Categories: kavita

Tags: #creativity, #emotion, #Life and Death, #poem, #wellness