Scary darkness has obliterated—
The brightness of our life-
The life of our life-
Lies feebly, frail and weak
Gazing blankly in the air
Hallucinating and terrified to the core
While flashing visions parade
Before her vacant eyes
Pale and alarmed she is for-
Nothing can drive away the appalling apparitions
Ruthlessly grabbing her mind and body
Hovering over her like infinite ghosts
Trapped she is within herself
With no chances of escape, she thinks!
Shaking like a leaf
She yells out in a trembling hoarse voice
For others to run away
Lest they too become the ill fated victims
Of the unseen brutal force!
She will hold the fort, faintly she mumbles
They could pounce and kill her
She was ready to forfeit herself
For her brood’s safety
Tears ran down their cheeks
While helplessly they stood holding her fragile hands
Trying to comfort and assure her
‘She was safe–no one was there’
But with firm determination she insisted
To be left alone and let the demons
Grit her away to feast on
A mother alone can be so altruistically courageous
[Even in times of great pain and sufferings]
A shield between danger and her family
A Lord Protector she is!
~Anuradha S. Bannore
Vadodara, India