Amidst the eerie impenetrable woods, Blazing with the unforgiving fire,

I step down from the jeep

Like the guilty from a prison’s carriage;

A tiny figure falters out of the creeping flames And rests its head against my calf,

Seeking refuge in these arms

That stripped it off its heavenly abode:

As I gaze at my hand smeared with blood, I see curses etched on my palm.

The burning leaves and the deafening groans Will ring in these ears till doom:

Blinded by greed and false ego, Man kept sacrificing innocents.

Was he not aware of the wrath of Mother Nature And that She can perish his existence in seconds?

Diving in the sacred Ganges, Bowing before the Prophet

Or chanting hymns to please the Gods Surely cannot liberate him from his plight.

With nothing left to alter his fate, It is too late to atone for his sins. So he must wait for his turn to pay

And watch himself march towards his grave:

Shibanshee secured the second position in the Creative writing competition by Youth4Water Plus & Mo College and belongs to Khordha district of Odisha. Currently, she is studying at Rama Devi Women’s University.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog reflects the author’s research, and personal experiences. Youth4Water Plus neither endorses, nor is responsible for the views expressed by the author.