Please read both the following poems and give your feedback. 😊
My steps make no sound upon the dark stone on path
Cold winter and all, in my stomach a sickening heat
A feeling of doomed misery, shrouding like an icy bath
My lungs searing and my heart barely making a beat
In a small corner of the great sprawling city
A humble house in a country of a billion
On the wall hangs a gentle photo, with peaceful longevity
Still untouched by the cold paws of oblivion
Her gentle eyes, twinkling like the stars of heaven
Her elegant smile, as warm as the sun in spring
Her flowing hair that made hearts in joy leaven
Her innocence and charm, that wreathed all like a ring
All around this lovely sight, heads are in a bend
Silent tears flow unchecked, the air is bleak and dreary
Around that photo is draped a small flower garland
For that is all that remains of her now, a memory
As his heart cries in anguish and his soul lets out a scream
His mind reels back a year to that night of utter hell
After hours of horror unknown, news that struck like a lightning beam
That mad rush to the hospital, he would remember well
She lay there in false peace, her tender eyes closed
But inside her raged a world of indescribable pain
As he gently stroked his daughter, the illusion was bulldozed
The pain tore from within like a mark of Cain
In front of her, nothing but sickening misery and blood
And yet she fought on, fueled by her desire to live
To strive for justice, to nip a vile shoot in the bud
To just have her back, anything he could give...
Prophecies of doom were circulating the world
But it had come already, on that dark night
A daughter, a sister, around whom their worlds swirled
In a gruesome battle against death, lost that fight
Memories of her spirited laugh, her promise of support
Of her flamboyant spirit and resolve of kindness forever
Of her striking courage against which no one can purport
Pierce their souls like icy knives, ever and ever
Who is to answer for it; what was her fault?
To be caught in that evil perverted devil's cruel mesh?
Oh memories of that sight, on gaping wound salt
Oh that blood, those shrieks and tears, that torn flesh!
What hurts more, it's truly tough to say
That sight of her final days, of cries, blood and gore
Or knowing her lively dreams to bring a better day
Were all shattered, all gone, left unfulfilled and sore
The day her soul departed, many more were lit ablaze
A stark realization that had hit home at last
The scourge of misogyny and discriminative ways
Condemned and opposed in a revolution vast
Up came many a topic for national debate
Of religion, of culture, of punishment and law
But her loss still crushed down like a heavy weight
The years may pass, but the wound shall be raw
The challenge foreseen is not merely what's commonly told
Mind-numbing as it all may be to the human sense
Monsters in the society have been known since days old
But what hope remains if all we see is glaring indifference?
This is not a fairy tale or parable for mass banter
Its ugly reality, stark and brutal, not mere folklore
To the indifferent ones, I point out, what happened to her
God forbid, could confront you when you step out of the door
It is a story of millions of tortured, suppressed and wronged souls
All crying for justice to in a world occupied with its pricey tarts
I say no more but to change ourselves, to flame ember from the coals
To uphold humanity and let that braveheart live forever in our hearts
-Demonstar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy and bright was her journey through life,
Simple yet beautiful was itself her life.
Suddenly it all came like a raging storm,
To end her happiness and her life.
It all happened within a flick,
As she was into the bus lured,
The sin of sins committed without a shame,
The atrocities could no longer be endured.
Outraged was even the remotest village,
Rally, protests and what not,
"We won't sleep", cried every soul,
"Unless justice we got".
Battling for life and justice, she lay
Parents shattered to pieces yet outraged
Worse than death penalties the monsters do deserve
It will not spare them, her parents' rage.
Despite her fate "I will fight till the end", she said
And she did it. She did fight.
The beasts have been sentenced to death.
She got her justice alright.
Oh dear Nirbhaya!
You awoke this nation with your spirit,
Our pain at seeing you was so acute,
To one of the bravest citizens of my nation,
I offer this pained yet heartfelt tribute.
-Reshma
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anupamaa
