The Hunger

The hunger Horrendous afternoon, breeze chose to be still Dilapidated hut in the midst of the hill Frail and fragile sat she at the threshold Crying baby in lap about an year old Both wrapped in rags covering their bony frame Emaciated and starved, whose game to blame? Small patch of green on which they grew little grain Fell prey to pests and the failed rain Her Man had left with a vow to return with food Three months had elapsed, broken vow for no good All these days, she with some hope, had waited With dried tubers and kernels hunger demon satiated Followed long week leaving empty- stomach, barren- hearth Devastated she sobbed, Oh! Father, why such a birth? Famished sans energy whenever she slipped into sleep Ort and broken bread-crumbs in her dream creep Rumbled their stomachs like the mighty thunder Nightmare all day showed this hunger monster...... His cruel voice, she heard him say, hey lady dare not gainsay You are poverty-struck, helpless, I have shut all your way He boasted, I am mightier than the prayers and stronger than all power You better let me feast as I pounce on you both to devour Imperious demon, I know for sure you won’t spare us, she said I have failed as a mother to feed my child, I deserve to be dead Weepy she said, I quit, I feel lost, I feel abandoned, I surrender And prayed that this world be delivered from the pangs of hunger Slowly, her child’s cry was embracing deafening silence Tears kept flowing down, she was feeling fragile and lifeless All of a sudden, she could see someone walk towards her Her Man! Timely! words kept! Came like a saviour Saved his lady and child from the draconian hunger! ©Copyright Anulaxmi Nayak, 2016