Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time there was a village,
a town a city where lovers roamed,
naughty children played on the streets
fathers toiled and mothers made sweets.

A day dawned like any other
the sun rose and woke up my brother
the birds flew by to catch the worm
not knowing - beneath the Earth it burn.

Unaware was I that the fish in the seas
lakes and oceans were at unease
Nor that most of the animals already knew
in a while what nature's wrath was coming to.

Earth moved from beneath my feet
as if all hell was let loose
glass, wood, steel, sand and iron
came crashing down without a siren.

Cement, bricks, panels and walls
reduced to rubble in seconds all
There was no one to hear the screams
none to help in response to calls.

When they came and removed the sands
they saw man and wife holding hands
all of them a part of a mass grave yes
their hands still wore the wedding bands.

The mother with her arms, a cradle made
for the infant whom she farewell bade
she played her role even in the face of death
and let the baby suckle at her breast.

Who else could come to the rescue of man
but the animal known to be his best friend who can
He sniffed and whined and gave us hope
there was no role for the Pandit or the Pope.

Today I stand here and stare at my village my town
empty, shocked eyes, and faces brown
I wake myself to the reality of this nightmare
and realise there's no time to stand and frown.

My beautiful world come back to me
Oh my land - this is not our destiny
Almighty help me rise from the ashes
like the Phoenix in all its glory.

There's no time to look for peers
No quiet moments yet to shed tears
Lets wash away all the blood and grime
rebuild our nests without losing time.

Bring back my village, my town, my city
where lovers roamed, children ran on the streets
fathers toiled, mothers made sweets
..........Once upon a time..............

~Vinita Sinha Ganesh~

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