The dark circles under my eyes,

I love them now.

The sparse and dull eyelashes,

Those shoot out of my eyelids’ edges,

I love them now.

My lustreless eyes,

I do not grumble about them now,

Because they capture for me,

The beauty of the earth.

The unshapely eyebrows with greying here and there,

Those spread over my eyes,

I love them now.

Because I see him,

Challenging the chilly morn, the sizzling day,

And the gusty evening,

 And sneaking off in others’ company

 To visit the mosque,

And to prostrate and thank the Lord,

For the air that he breathes free of cost,

Though his eyes betray him,

To illuminate his world around.

………….Dr. Fathema Begum