in

Mystery box: A poem by Anjana Prasad

A birthday gift
wrapped in ribbon, pink, blue or green
seems a mystery box to me
sitting on a table to be solved.

Abra-Kadabra!!! golden bobbles
the gift you get is a clue
bracing excitement to
unravels how much a person knows you.

How heavy is the box?
truffles rum-balls chess set or books
with all your family and friends
standing around can’t unbox.

The hall looks spectacular
in festoons of streamers and balloons
chocolate cake with glittering candles,
unleashing new potentials of grown me.

Birthdays are not just about gift acceptance
with return gifts in humbleness
for kids who wait for me every year
in an orphanage, with whom I will share my birthday gifts.