Skip to main content

Mundane Death Toll


“Why does it throb?”
“What? The heart?”
“No. It’s this strange head.
The heart keeps me alive
But the throbbing head
And the horrible thoughts-
They are killing me.”
The fowl stench,
The charred bodies
Scattered in bits and pieces,
The blood gone black-
Parts of humanity
Or humanity that used to be?
Blasted down to oblivion.
Another group of people
Dead like so many before.
Adding to the never-ending list
Of names that cease to be names anymore.
Numbers maybe.
Another camouflaged figure
Of some two hundred or so-
Lost in a moment, forgotten in a day.
What difference does it make?
Some more dead, many more alive-
Visiting new malls, dressing up like dolls,
Clicking some cute pictures,
Uploading videos of fun and frolic,
Praising a friend’s pretty or hot look-
In person or on Facebook.
Horrid rituals of shallow mirth.
Some hearts never shook
While the news channels sold the bites.
Death piled over death,
Money piled over money…
But life went on
In search of an elusive harmony.
“Why does it throb?”
“What? The heart?”
“No baby. It’s my stupid head.
Give me some coffee and bread
And let me throw
This newspaper off our bed.” 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE FIRE-FLY

So late into the night, A pale yellow light, The room is all so gloomy. The sorry wreck of myself Perched on the chair, Hitting some notes On the faithful old guitar. The fingers find their way To the chords that may Drive in some fun. But the melancholy minors Are always there to  stay. Oh! A fire-fly! What a delight! Full of it’s happy light… Near the corner of the room It sits down to rest, Spreading its light all along.  I partake of the happiness And the guitar responds With such vigour and joy That the gloom of the room Seems like misty history. The fire-fly starts feeling restless. So much of joy… So hard to contain… Its job is done. It has made me feel so good. Now it can leave And spread the mood around. It takes off, hovers in the air, Goes higher, takes a swing… And oh!!The cruel blade- The return-gift from humanity… It drops down on the table, Its light slowly fading out… I keep ...
16 comments
Read more

ME?

Underneath this stable soil A beast is trapped for years. It moans, it groans, it sighs But nobody hears. One fine evening On my way back home I took an unknown route To hide from the smoke and soot. The countryside was lovely A treat to the eyes. The view was getting better When I heard the sighs. The sun was taking a back-seat, The engine was gathering more heat, The air was rushing past me Suddenly I heard my name. Nobody was around Just trees and the road and me. Who on earth would sigh and call? I pulled over to see. The sigh and the cry got louder As I moved towards the lake. It came from under a tree My name was being called distinctly. I froze for a while As it kept on calling. I asked in a faint voice- “Who are you?” The beast started laughing “I am you”… I ran back to the car  Didn’t stop till I was home. I can never forget that day When I met myself accidentally. Since then I’ve lived ...
10 comments
Read more

A POINT OF NO RETURN

When I looked into your eyes, I could see the pain. And I could tell That I was the cause of it. But I know myself too well. I could not apologise. I could not sacrifice that Inflated ego of mine. I knew that the fault was mine. But I was too proud Or maybe too scared To admit that I could be wrong. I let you leave without a word. I tried and I tried But the words did not come. I saw the last turn that you took. Slowly you faded away Into the distance- Far, far away… Too far for me to get you back. The distance was created long back. But this feeling was so new. Maybe I could still make amends. But I stood numb as you le ft.  
13 comments
Read more