God's Decree

In a broken shed, Telma lived, with her children three,

Ten years old, was the youngest; the eldest was twenty.

Her husband had disappeared, with no news since then, 

She had searched everywhere; her efforts were in vain.

Her fingers were sore, as she was forced to knit all day;

To feed her starving family, that seemed the only way.

Her eldest son had to study, aspiring to be a good doctor,

Once he graduated, there wouldn’t be suffering any longer.

In a nut-shell, this was the backdrop of Telma’s small family,

Which in Myanmar, for many a decade, had lived peacefully.

A broken shed it was, but it was their home, their shelter;

A nest--- no other place, for them, could possibly be safer.

The weather was freezing cold, the night was calm and still.

All of them were huddled together, to ward off the bitter chill;

From the distance, they heard the sound of a clear rifle shot.

And the gruff voices of the military, as” Terrorist” were caught.

The children, in panic, clutched each other in mortal fright,

From the screams, they knew, it to be an inauspicious night. 

All of a sudden, there was thundering at the creaky door;           

It shook visibly, in terror, like the frightened inmates indoor.

The door snapped open and stepped in men in uniform.

The rickety shed shook violently, as if in a cyclonic storm.

They seized the eldest boy, and savagely flung him outside;

 “We suspect you’ve joined the Terrorists, our enemy side”.

 “I am a student, I am innocent, I am not involved in politics”.

Heedless, he was subjected to torrents of batons and sticks.

He shouted, he screamed, and with pain, piteously groaned,

Ruthlessly they dragged him; semi-consciously, he moaned.

The mother looked on helplessly, with a tear in her eye.

Husband too was innocent; she stifled a poignant sigh.

He did not return, and she was sure, nor will her son,

Her hopes, her dreams, her very existence were done!

She looked at her son contorting, and writhing in pain;

Then looked at her fingers-she had nothing to complain.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, she could not stifle a cry,

To accept God’s harsh Decree, she would definitely try.