Sunday Poem By Dr. Piku Chowdhury

A PRAYER FOR THE DESERT LAND

The loud echoes of assertion and a million manifold
Of desires, demands and evolving dreams
Dissect the opacity and reticence of the drawn blinds
Where only the ripples move stealthily and
Whisper the notes of renunciation and surrender.
Cactus blooms in cactus land
Grains swirl in sterile sand
They have forgotten to fold their hands
In communion and raise them instead,
In fists that sport with barren winds
Of desert lands of gall and lead.
Lead that weighs them down and down
Bizarre blatant toy soldiers and clowns
in long dead tinsel towns ;
Let the shadows lengthen and cover the show
The sterility of which perhaps they know –
Let the ripples flow
And drown the fire
Let the communion pacify every burning desire.