PINK LOTUS..




Times when the valley was green,
Surroundings calm and serene,
Lofty mountains stood guarding tall,
Watching lovingly over all.

Trees green
With sparkling sheen
Danced and swayed,
When the wind blew over the maidens' braid.

Crystal clear lake,
Quiet it stood, never did shake
As it did when the guns sounded
Pain and anguish all over resounded.

In their small dingy boats the maidens
Would come to the lake then,
Colorful with the bright pink lotus,
The banks bright with lovely crocus.

The lotus shot up amidst large green leaves,
The bright sun rays they received,
Beautiful maidens in the evening came
To pluck them with love, take some.

Take them to the abode of Gods,
To be presented at the feet of the Lord,
In thankfulness 
For the abundant beauty, love and happiness.

Alas! All this is seen no more,
Now there are war cries and gore,
All happiness is lost,
My valley has paid a huge cost.

The beautiful lake now stands dirty,
Scattered with water weeds, all mossy,
Shrunk in size,
Quietly it cries.

It cries at the gun shots,
At the red blood clots
Of the innocent lives,
Cataract of pain blinding its eyes.

It still waits in hope
To see peace and happiness roll down the slopes,
Again see the lotus blossom,
Till then it plays possum.

With it my heart too prays
For return of the beautiful days,
Oray I too shaĺl see the lotus bloom
The beautiful pink doing away the gory gloom.

©Madhumita

*Kashmir was at the back of my mind