Commuter's Plight

By Neha Kundarap

On a long commute, morning and evening 

I meet many strangers who fail to greet.

Some texting, many binge watching. 

Constantly, fearlessly without even blinking.

Failing to understand, thinking long I say, 

Oh Almighty! give them power to keep it away.

The plight of stooped necks, 

the thought of chronic pains, 

I know nothing will cure your smartphone face.

Why the aimless scrolling? 

why the frantic texting? 

Look up! Oh! tech zombie, 

you are existing.

Failing to understand, thinking long I say, 

Oh Almighty! give them power to keep it away.

The first human, worked hard to stand on 2 feet. 

An erect spine and a steady neck 

was his pride hard to defeat. 

The eyes could see far which all seemed so effortless.

Are you conquered by this small device? 

Or are you just helpless? 

Failing to understand, thinking long I say, 

Oh Almighty! give them power to keep it away.

In that small bubble, you will struggle to smile. 

The online world my friend, 

is giving you a hormone turmoil. 

Look outside the window it's snowing in your city, 

let the reality keep you hooked 

and not the hunched back pity.

Failing to understand, thinking long I say, 

Oh Almighty! give them power to keep it away.

We are social, let's communicate. 

Languages and dialects, it's we who have invented.

So express yourself, out of a nutshell.

Time with your loved ones is a magic spell.

Memories can be captured, 

but only if you create some, 

phones are secondary, 

don't stop being human.

Failing to understand, thinking long I say, 

Oh Almighty! give them power to keep it away.

As I stepped out of the train 

with thoughts lingering in my mind, 

something struck me with a pleasant surprise.

It wasn't the phones, it wasn't the poise.

Oh! But…those deep eyes of stranger stayed with me 

who kept the phone away and chose to smile.

By Neha Kundarap