Rights: Available
A Mid-ager’s Tale is a poem about a middle-aged official and writer, torn between his intense love for his children and his equally intense love for his youthful paramour, which at times turns him into a creature of self-loathing, caught between repentance and celebration, abstention and indulgence. But what is endearing about him is his ready wit and the sense of humor with which he examines his relationship with the girl— a curious and calculating mix of fidelity and
coquetry— and the way he freely compares himself with the affecting and strange people of his varied and astounding experiences. These verses are therefore not simply about him but also about these interesting people and their unusual perspectives, fused into one personality and one poem.
It may be said that A Mid-ager’s Tale has turned a simple adulterous love affair into a deep psychological probing, one which also evaluates Khasi life and manners through humorous story-telling.
