The Village Awaits

By Madhavi Chintakunta

The village awaits its returning wanderers

many a son and daughter have traveled far and wide

all for a morsel of money and may be some more

with dreams shining and hard work their investment

The city that beckoned, that which welcomed them with grinding work

which roared all the time like an ever hungry animal

that which sped on with lightening speed spinning and spinning

those scores and crores of people pressing, crowding and shrouding

That city, that work that had enticed them, came to a halt

the animal retreated hurt to lie low and lick its wounds

crowds disappeared, gaol-ed inside the walls of their own making

The big beast of a human brought to its knees by a tiny virus

The wanderers, utterly forgotten had no place to go

city shut on them, streets shunned them, shanties closed on them

home was far, loved ones were calling, hearts grew heavy with worry

offices unhelpful and wheels not turning, only feet felt steadfast to carry them

They trudged on, cases in hand, bundles on head

little ones tagging along, road was long, way was treacherous

hunger gnawed the insides, Sun was brutal on the head, yet

yearning to be home carried them along, finding the way on an unknown path

Dangers lurked at every corner, Sun claimed some

Hunger and thirst some more, death came quelling in accidental form

luck favored a few and carried them along, but many fell by the wayside unmentioned

The village awaits its returning wanderers

By Madhavi Chintakunta