Bullock Cart
POETRY FORMAT, 15 Nov 2021
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
As I woke up I saw a lady and a man sitting nearby
The lady lovingly said, I am your Mother
Pointing towards the man, He is your Father.
I looked around bit more and saw a young girl sitting quietly
Before I could ask , my Mother explained
She is your elder Sister, she came to our Bullock Cart before you
She will love you, take care of you.
The Cart moved slowly. Sometimes my father would step down
Remove some leaves and stones and clean the passage
Step into the Cart and make it move properly.
A few days later, the Cart again stopped. My Father stepped out
Where is he going? With a broken voice Mother said
Let him go. Into another village, but he won’t come back here.
The journey continued as earlier without my Father
After a few days, the Cart was stopped by a party playing music
My sister stepped out, joined the dancing man and bade a sweet goodbye
Mother became emotional. Let her go
She will go to another village with the dancing partner
And set up another new Bullock Cart.
Heard a rumbling sound from nearby. That is a railway train, Mother said
It goes faster, it leaves a blanket of smoke behind
One day you will wizz past us in this slow Cart.
The journey continued in this slow manner
The Cart stopped again and Mother began to step outside.
Can’t explain how I felt, Father, Sister gone, now Mother going
Oh my God, it is not a Bullock Cart. I wept — It is Life itself.
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Poetry
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 15 Nov 2021.
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