Home, Sweet Home

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They walked...and they walked! 
             prolonged stretches of a disastrous journey -  
                     hundreds of miles of uncertainty. 
                Odyssey which seemed like an eternity! 

                      In blazing sun, in sweltering heat -  
                  escape from the sufferings of an inferno.  
                       to villages with shady trees!  
                         Destination so far away.  

                          Thirst, hunger, bleeding.  
                      They trudged..fatigued babies  
                hanging on their shoulders like sandbags,  
                     starving infants clutching hands,  
                          tears dry on their cheeks.  

      Men and women - trudged, stumbled, dragged themselves! 
                 left cities where cruelty is the only language, 
                           villages with shady trees - 
                        Home, sweet home, far away.  

                        Burning sun, sweating bodies,  
                        growling tummies, dry throat, 
                slogged beside railroads - followed tracks, 
                no trains, no buses, no trucks, no vehicles. 

                                 ill-fated souls...
                       Only two weary feet to carry  
                          them to their destination, 
                         plodding with all their might  
                    until the body almost came to a halt!  

                     Lay down on the tracks - cold, and merciless!  
                       come rest, come sleep, come death -  
                      Oh Darling Death, the ultimate peace..
                       doomed tracks - plastered with blood! 
                              Destination never came.



Notes: On May 8, 2020, a train in western India (Madhya Pradesh) ran over migrant workers sleeping on the tracks, killing at least 16, among a group of people returning to their villages, according to officials. Tens of thousands of labourers had been walking home from India’s key cities after losing their jobs in those weeks because of a sudden lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 


 Edited on October 11, 2021, from my own free verse poem -"Never Reached 
 Home" posted in 2020.
                 Inspired By " A Historical Glance Back Poetry Contest"
                                    Sponsor: BJ Legros Kelley

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Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 11/19/2021 6:03:00 AM

I remember this incident that happened in 2020 Mala, during the sudden lockdown imposed... Such a poignant write reminding us of that particular tragic event that took the lives of those innocent men, women and children... so well crafted... Congratulations on your win... Hugs... ~ Ani

Malabika Ray Choudhury
Date: 11/19/2021 6:42:00 AM

Dear Anitha, Thank you for reading this poem. I was horrified when I learned about this incident, and had to write about this tragedy. Appreciate your thoughtful comments.

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 11/17/2021 8:03:00 PM

Malabika, I wanted to stop by and congratulate you on the winning placement of your beautifully written poem 'Home, Sweet Home'. It is a very sad write, and terrible that anyone should ever have to suffer and die in such brutality and horror. So often the railroad brings romantic imagery, but it also brings vivid horror to others. You painted the story of those who have faced horror, and their story should be heard. Thank you for your contribution, and again, congratulations <3 ~BJ

Malabika Ray Choudhury
Date: 11/19/2021 6:40:00 AM

Thank you for my placement. This is a story I wanted to be heard, and it is being heard.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 11/16/2021 9:22:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. What a wonderful yet very sad story/write. No one should die like this. Have a blessed day with your win...............

Malabika Ray Choudhury
Date: 11/19/2021 6:38:00 AM

Thanks, Paula. Appreciate your thoughtful comments.