Before I knew…
You had discarded your milk bottle…
Climbed out of your crib…
Before I knew…
You batted and bowled…
Sped on football fields…
Before I knew…
You fiercely debated…
And sketched with flourish…
Before I knew…
You acted in plays…
And took to music…
Before I knew…
You learnt to build…
In a country far away…
Before I knew…
You bought me a watch …
With your first salary…

Before I knew…
My moist eyes were thanking the Almighty…

As…
The watch adorned my wrinkling wrist…

                                          ~Monica Bakre

                                              Bangalore, India