Dear Poet Friends, the 4th of July is celebrated as American
Independence Day. But for me it is a day of special significance since it is my contemporary & Texan poet friend Jon Stevens’ BIRTHDAY! We were both born in the same year 1943! Kindly join up to wish John ‘A Very Happy Birth Day’ with me! Today I dedicate an old poem of mine to John, titled - ‘’Time the Master Craftsman’’ composed way back in 2007 and posted on ‘Poenhunter.com’. Hope John and my Readers will like it! Thanks, - Raj, New Delhi.

      TIME THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN!
TIME the master craftsman first lets you grow.
For you are his ‘marble slab’ on which his work will show!
He silently chips away, his chisel makes no noise.
For he is a master of stealth, and woks with elegant poise.
We all take him for granted as time passes by.
Spring gives way to Summer, as Autumn draws nigh.

Then suddenly one day the mirror shows a face.
The wrinkles are etched all over, and spread across
your face.
With deep furrows on your forehead, even a shiny
baldness shows.
The sculptor has done his work both steady and slow!
Your eyes get set deeper, with blotches on your skin.
Your face begins to shrink, with a toothless child-like grin.
Time the master craftsman has now perfected his art.
He remains surrounded by other slabs for his chipping
work to start!
-By Raj Nandy
04 July 2016
A VERY HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO JOHN STEVENS OF TEXAS &
                  WISHING HIM BEST OF HEALTH.