Guilt Of Silence Poem by Rajendra Nagdev

A man is moving
as much as his waning spirit
and his dwindling courage allow
as much as his jammed joints permit,
his past obscure, future predictable.

Half a dozen dogs lurking around
off and on biting and pulling arms, legs
and long dirty hair,
half naked lunatic
or a penniless patient
lying on the pathway,
a pathetic sight outside a hospital.

Scores of eyes gazing
no action in the bodies they are tucked on.

In virtually lost last battle
sure to culminate
in the stillness of breath
the man is wearing out
with each passing moment.

The pitiless crowd
willingly slipped in amnesia
is waiting perhaps, for Mother Terressa
forgetting she is beyond
pains and pleasures of
terrestrial life now.

The flesh is torn
the body dragged
they must act, act fast
lest will carry lifelong
the burden of futile act of repentance,
may never absolve themselves
of the guilt of silence.
* * * *

Bhopal(India)
date 10-6-2018