An Apology º
by Umashankar Joshi

Excuse me, love, if I did not
          Speak endearing words;
Today I am lost
          In writing a story: How We Met.

Forgive me, love, if I failed
          To send you a note;
Today I am engrossed
          In composing Songs of Love.

Suffer me, love, if in life
          You knew thirst.
I, a poet, ploughed the heart
          To leave grapes––my words––behind.

º Translated from Gujarati by the author