Longing For A Smile

Longing for a smile

P K Routray

A lady, health shattered, strength withered, physically old,

was looking forward to go ahead with a stick on her quivering hold.

Her uncombed, never oiled, unruly hairs were adding to her age

carrying was she her crying grandchild with legs hitting her rib cage.

With running nose, ill fed physique the child had stretched her hands

surely pleading for necessities of life, our humane vanity, this surely offends.

Poverty of food, cloth and shelter in them had a thought provoking reflection

as if looted by us, the wise men for our devilish greed’s gratification.

This picture is true and real, snapped from a remote hilly terrain

to force an introspection in us as our humane traits are on wane.

The scene makes this naive philosophical to question the man, his life’s mission

“Is it only to loot, hoard and squander at their cost for own personal fun?”

The future generation is crying from the mother earth’s weakening shoulder

“Take mercy on me I am none other but only your grandson or granddaughter”.

Appeal I in the twilight days of my life of selfish survival but gaining this late wisdom

“Whatever we do, our deed must ensure that a smile in both as the outcome.”

If I write this poem but it fails to contribute to bring out this smile

fruitless will be my endeavor, for a deed worth of it I swear to travel may be many a mile.