Unwillingly the shutters go down
all of them
The busy places of transaction
exchange nothing
The overcrowded streets
witness
a lone dog on the prowl
and none may dare to
stem the tide
else face a backlash
from
forces interested in their own cause
Cause?
The merchant rues his loss
the labourer stares at the cold chulha
as money the mover
stays locked in vaults
and does none good
The household whiles time in
restless anxiety
the child stares and wonders
As the whole town
waits for a fresh sun
And under this fresh sun
The forces sit back and look at
What they’ve achieved…
…nothing…

© Sunil Rajguru