Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Waiting Room



The chaos of people has rested
In the silence of the night; only
The screeching owl gives a call…
Even the siren hangs by the side of the wooden frame.

People, lying here and there in
The colourful bed sheets
That spread around few corners of the room
That shelters them temporarily!

Silence does not echo extending any notes;
As the signals too have been shut down!
Only a small yellow lamp beams through
The night into those distance uncovered paths…

The man with the toilet broom rests his head
Over a pillow after the toil – the broom still
Held under his grip, tight – also – relaxed!

His day ends with a piece of bread and tea,
And wakes with fresh falling stream of water
From the nearby water tank that overflows
At the break of dawn… the broom hangs by the shoulder now…

A child lay by his mother, as his sister comforts close by,
Their father holds on to the chained trunk, moving his hand to and fro,
While the mother covers her face from the flies that sing around!

Noises are at halt, only the puppy at crossroads cries,
As many from the nearby slum join the chorus!

Some lanterns and light bulbs gleam through the dark,
Flashing flickers of golden sparkle across.
A slight breeze spreads the beam to the outer space;
As night hosts multitude of shadows!

The striking clock paces and strikes
With each passing hour as movements
Begin to rise, fade, relapses and gain momentum!

The journey begins once more swiftly
Into the day, the noon, and the dusk!
Splashes of water flows across the ‘waiting room’;
Cleansed for new arrivals…!

                                                                                                     Rajdeep Pathak

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