Old, Empty Bottles

Cleaning up my attic the other day

I chance upon some empty bottles.

From the fading, moth-eaten labels

I read the names; Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie

Jack Daniels, Jameson, Johnny Walker, Chivas Regal

Old Putney, Old Smuggler and a few others –

And there! My eternal favourite, Glenlivet!

Gifts from old friends, none I could afford.

I pull out the corks, twist open the caps and

Breathe in, deeply, the exquisite fragrance

Look lovingly at the traces of golden liquid, the dregs

Languishing at the bottom.

Life, as you get old, is like a near- empty

Bottle of Single Malt

Carrying the haloed memories

Of happiness, of abandon

Of gaiety and camaraderie.

Life, the elders would know,

Is all about remembering the smells,

The sights and sounds of the past.

In the fading light, I smile to myself

Ruefully.

Yet - I am happy

That I had once tasted good things

That I could recollect and rejoice now

Though, they are just memories.

************    Balachandran V, Trivandrum 07-10-2014