About a Dusty Picture

Summary

"About a Dusty Picture" is a reflective poem that captures the nostalgia of a carefree time 10 years ago through the contemplation of an old photograph.

Abstract

The poem "About a Dusty Picture" by Suntonu Bhadra takes the reader on a journey through memory and time, evoked by an old photograph hanging on a wall. The speaker is transported back to a moment captured a decade earlier, reminiscing about a youthful, joyful self who traveled without worry, indulging in simple pleasures like roadside tea and the freedom of open roads. The poem paints a vivid picture of a past life, free from the constraints of responsibility and time, where the speaker had a head full of hair, a penchant for expensive cigarettes, and a watch that often stopped, symbolizing a carefree attitude towards punctuality and commitments. The realization of the passage of time strikes the speaker, leading to the reflection that "Time and tide wait for none," a poignant reminder of life's transient nature. The author, a business consultant and traveler, shares his thoughts on Medium, inviting readers to explore more of his work, including another poem titled "non·sen·si·cal."

Opinions

The speaker has a deep sense of nostalgia for the depicted time in the photograph, which represents a period of youthful exuberance and freedom.
There is an appreciation for the simple pleasures in life, such as roadside tea and steamed cake, which are remembered fondly.
The speaker seems to romanticize the past, highlighting the lack of responsibility and the ability to live in the moment without concern for the future.
The poem conveys a sense of loss or change, as the speaker acknowledges the difference between the person in the photograph and who they are in the present.
The mention of the stopped watch and the carefree attitude towards time suggests a thematic focus on the fleeting nature of youth and life itself.
The poem ends with a philosophical note, acknowledging the relentless march of time and the inevitability of change, which affects everyone universally.

About a Dusty Picture

Throwback Towards Time

Photo by Jeremy Lishner on Unsplash

Just got frozen, While glancing at a picture - Hanging on the northeast wall. Snapped? When? Aha! 10 years ago.

A depiction of a person, more like a happy one Wandered around from places to places. Without thoughts, With endless hustle and bustle.

Roadside tea, Steamed cake, expensive cigarette, Clean-air, vast open freedom Within my reach. The hot sun scorched over my head. Careless boy, with Lots of money, Peace in mind, no care for the body.

Head full of hair, slightly curly, Mostly black, sometimes bushy. My watch stopped often.

No rush to return, no accountability. Responsibility none. I just ran through time to time.

The year was 2010. Poof!

I looked again, To the dusty picture Of the northeast wall.

And uttered on my own, ‘Time and tide wait for none.’

If you have liked these wordings, why don’t you look into the following one, covering a different aspect.

Suntonu Bhadra is a 2020 joined writer in Medium, who loves to learn from surroundings and world wide web. He is a Business Consultant in the profession, a mentor of Sales productivity & a traveler by heart. In his newfound love- ‘Medium’, he is expressing his thoughts and is looking forward to engaging.

POETRY

About a Dusty Picture

non·sen·si·cal

terms, a ridiculously impractical poem.