A Tinted Saga

By Neity Prasad

A young lady walks alone-

Down a dark, desolate drain.

The townsfolk yelled, “maiden, halt!"

But their words fall in vain.

Scarlet shrouds her vision-

She sees a bloody sludge

Of her comrades' flesh and bones.

She won't retreat. Her feet won't budge.

Of the voices around her,

She's vicariously offended and in pain.

The townsfolk yelled, “maiden, halt!"

But their words fall in vain.

Indignant, she screams-

"I've seen through your lies!

My brothers were fools to trust you-

You've caused their demise!

In the name of religion,

What you've done is disgusting! Inhumane!"

The townsfolk yelled, "maiden, halt!"

But their words fall in vain.

She advances down the sewer-

With the red veil still covering her head.

Through the tinted, sheer fabric,

Everything she sees is red.

To her anguished claims most were oblivious

But they had no time to make her explain-

The townsfolk yell, "maiden, halt!"

But their words fall in vain.

A young lady walks alone-

Down a dark, desolate drain.

Her generalised suspicion and cynicism

Finally drove her insane.

By Neity Prasad