Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Beast of Burden

Beast of Burden

I carry

On my desiccated back

The loads

Of people-over the mountains

Over the hills

Through the valleys

For a living

I am not tired

I am not retired

I am not old

Age cannot bar me

How can it?

If load ensures

My kin’s daily meal

How can it?

If load ensures

My mere survival

How can it?

If load became

An inseparable part of my life

Remove it

And my breaths collapse

Remove it

And my bones crack

Remove it

And my blood drain

I am a Beast of Burden

For ages I am there

For ages I will be

I am a beast, not a human

I am not a beggar

I’ll never be.

© Tarun Mitra


This is my first posting for the month of June 2010 and one after a long long time. Indeed there was some slackness on my part but also it would be pertinent to mention that I was busy with my life. I was following only few blogs (apologies to others), but Delhi heat and power situation can be unforgiving.

The picture was taken by me on my trip to Mussoorie. It was taken on 11th June, 2010 and now it seems a long time ago.

9 comments:

Mridula said...

What to do Tarun, there are so many things in this world that are not right.

Megha said...

...some burdens are too heavy to bear..there is a very beautiful marathi song sung by Asha Bhosale
'Jivalaga Rahile Re Door'

D2 said...

We do wish that certain burdens may be lessened and the pain be alleviated for these people but it is as they say; never try to change somebody else's life, even for their benefit, for if something wrong ever happens out of it, it will come back to haunt you. And something like that always happens. But it is sad and pitiful to see such sights and such people and to not be able to do much about it.

Unknown said...

Hmm..lag raha tha ki tune yeh pic mussoorie ki li hai anyways once again beautifully written.....and expressed the need of a person who earns bread and butter from this burden

Tarun Mitra said...

@ Mridula..I can agree on that..

@ Megha...never heard that....thanks

@ D2...hitting the right button bro..don't try to change someone's life..but I believe in inspiring others..to show the road..and let them decide to walk or not..

@ Shivani...yes it is Mussoorie...thanks yaar.

Thank you all for stopping by...:)

aayanman said...

Welcome back. Good to see that your time out of the blog world has had a profound effect on your writing. This is a very well poem.
Good stuff.

Sanand said...

Good to have you back and that too writing a poem that has good meaning. Hope to read more on your blog now that you are going to be active again.

Nalini Hebbar said...

Nice to read you again...keep it coming...don't get too busy!

Tarun Mitra said...

@ Gyanban..thanks..:)

@ Sanand..me active....hopefully :)

@ Nalini...can't help..:)