down the road she went
with a letter in her hand,
summoning the post master,
she told him of her predicament-
he who was gone to war
had not returned back,
what had appeared was a sheet
smeared with a blood like seal,
she who could not read a single word
plead before the kind gentleman
to tell her what it contained,
~
the bespectacled man read carefully
and told her, her son was well,
that was what the letter said
while he faced away from her,
he handed back to her the sheet
and confirmed that her son was fine,
he had reached his final abode,
away, safe from war and hunger,
~
she shrieks, cries, wails, screams,
clutching the collar of his shirt,
and befell on her knees,
praying for who was never to return,
he supported her up and
they looked at each other,
waiting for the other one to
break that ominous silence
but it remained all still
while the sun dipped into the sea,
leaving behind a trace of red tinge.
HA's Place 