Malabika Ray Choudhury | + Follow Poet |
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Loneliness

She is an image of grim loneliness,
Her gloomy withdrawn countenance
struck me in the middle of a joyful gathering…
A shroud of melancholy surrounded her
face like a black veil!

a wedding celebration going on, plenty of
wine, food, cakes…pounding, throbbing  music, 
beautiful bride in white dress,
crowd brimming with happiness!

Is depression taking over her?!
wistful memories of her youth
drowning her feelings with inexplicable grief!
Does she remember the promise of
a young man in his twenties, strong
and handsome…who never came back!

               Fire, cries, screams,
    In the centre of the busiest city,
The tall concrete buildings were crumbling down
like dominoes, a few lives trapped in the inferno ..
that’s the only picture she can see in her head!

   She never saw that beaming  face again!
     Even in a rapturous crowd, her mind is vacant!

Copyright © Malabika Ray Choudhury | Year Posted 2023

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Paul Callus Date: 6/29/2023 1:31:00 PM This is such a sad poem, Mala. Indeed, tragic moments in life can be very traumatic. Even little things could trigger off haunting memories. Well done for ably including the required words. ~ Best regards // paul [ps...hope you got my soupmail] Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/29/2023 1:50:00 PM Thank you, Paul, for such a thoughtful comment. Yes, I received your email. Appreciate your kindness - I will let you know when the book is ready for publishing. Warmest thanks again.

Bill Baker Date: 6/7/2023 4:11:00 PM Tragic story in this one, Mala. Unexpected death of a spouse or close friend can create deep sorrow and usually depression. 9/11 was such an event. Thanks for sharing the state of mind it can put someone in, even at a joyous ocassion like a wedding. Good luck in the contest, my friend. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/7/2023 4:22:00 PM Thank you, Bill. This is a real story about someone I met. Her life got totally upside down after this tragedy! Losing a fiancé in a tragic accident is unbelievable grief for whole life. Appreciate your comment. BW ~ Mala

Panagiota Romios Date: 6/1/2023 1:55:00 PM Am having a problem getting the meaning of the poem. I know you are talking about the mother of the bride, Correct? I got lost in the fires screams, etc. She never saw her beaming face again! Did the bride die? Or did they all perish? If so, what a sad situation. I do know how a wedding day can be sorrowful if a Mother is close to her daughter. To her, the world is ending. She cannot seethe future ahead. Sorry for my confusion..Malabika..please clarify. Panagiota Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/1/2023 2:56:00 PM Dear Pangie, I am sorry - the story may not be very clear - to me, it's a real story about someone I knew. Let me explain a little bit - "the fire, the buildings crumbling down" I am referring to the disaster of 9/11 in New York. A young man perished, never came back. He was engaged to this woman, who now suffers from depression - at a wedding (could be someone else's daughter), when everyone else is celebrating, she remembers the tragedy, and feels totally alone. Pangie, i don't know if this is making sense to you now. I just wrote the way it came to my pen. Thank you for asking ~ Mala