An Uneasy Calm

An Uneasy Calm

Some said, why throng the temple; living gods are often seen at the orphanage.

I visited, all said; meet Sue, the charming little and the youngest of all.

He was someone’s love child; forsaken when their love had gone wild.

My dear, as I see you giggle and wiggle among the bluebells,

I keep brooding, why I still sense an uneasy calm all around!

 

One asked, why do I crave relentlessly; there is a place that could answer it all.

I visited a home for the old; met Dora, the most loved amongst all.

She’s been left alone, as those dear to her were in a rush to reach the heaven.

Charmed to see her move on with pain and pleasure, leaving her past to rust.

As I bade goodbye, how do I vanquish my brooding as therein lies an uneasy calm.

 

As the father leaves the house at dusk to start his day of toil,

Hugo, in his somnambulistic pretense locks a pinky swear, for all he expects at dawn.

After a day’s toil, hands with dirt and soil, Hugo forgets the pinky swear he made.

All four feast together, while only a quarter the platter is food, and rest all is love.

Visibly an uneasy calm; the mother down in the mouth, knows not what lies next.

 

A friend said; visit the neighboring village, love blossoms despite all the differences.

I set foot in, but a year later; chirping of the birds louder than scream of a child.

Pulled a known from a ghetto against his wishes, to fish by the riverbank.

Fortuitously there was he vis-a-vis with an old mate as I see their eyes turn red.

Again an uneasy calm; heard a murmur, they fought for their gods, a fortnight back.

 

Ted and Fred tilled their adjoining land for years together.

One shared water, the other some humus as they blessed each other.

Now as Ted struggles with his plough, Fred gazes at him with teary eyes.

Made apart by barbed wires; the State says, the Teds differ from the Freds.

An uneasy calm looming; more shells exchanged across than the needed love.

 

They named him Ruffian, bereft of any virtue and pained all whom he met.

His wife cried; buy some food and dry wood to keep the infant warm and alive.

In the dark, he knifed an innocent and snatched his bag of bread.

As he cheerfully enjoys his steal with his family, a news there arrives,

An uneasy calm prevails; a known is dead while returning home with a bag of bread.

 

Castor arrived at the prison; no crime left that he has not committed.

All raised him as their blue eyed one in a span so short.

Boundless was his soulful charm as all flocked the cell he was in.

Alas, someone came running hearing the decree, Castor to be hanged at dusk.

Mocks the insurmountable uneasy calm, as he yells “Outwith these walls, Soul of mine”.

 

Maurie had passed through woe upon woe, and now been rushed to the infirmary.

Ed on his deathbed had desired his little girl to be named Birdie.

As all prayed for her, they yearned for the newborn, lovingly they would call Birde.

Hear Maurie scream and see the newborn go numb,

An uneasy calm conquers, as they cry out to Ed, “Leave one to us while you are gone”.

 

Louis and Walter, born on the same day, congruous in all, they all say.

Their love was such, vowed to be united till the pyre as were they at mother’s womb.

Destiny made Walter the State’s guardian, while Louis its foe.

Walter sunk with impuissant contemplation as prayers for deliverance got louder.

Cheers engulf the riverine town as he nears blood-soaked, in an uneasy calm; with Louis by his arm.