That Rainy Day (Revised) Poem by Sathya Narayana

They prayed in unison
for the eluding rain.
Long waited in despair
at the horizon staring.
Months passed without a sign
testing their patience.

Hot Sun heckled with a sneer.
Night sky speckled with moon and stars
leered in ridicule.

An old farmer averred
“We’re all cursed by the Goddess
to whom we shunned oblations”

Asserted one literate peasant
“It’s all green house effect.”

Soon cried an yeoman in glee
“There in the skies! See! ”
Spotting a black nimbus
hovering over Northern expanse.

When came a squall of promise
followed by what they missed long;
drop by drop; as a tickle of optimism.

First just as a drizzle
then grew into a blissful deluge.
The tillers found no bounds to their glee.
They laughed, screamed and danced.
Their mirth and play went astray
till they heard the direful horns blare
of cars and jeeps that arrived!

Got down many men looking stately
of unmistakable power and sway
of high echelons of bureaucracy.

Declared one well-determined
“We came here to take your land
to make a project grand.
We give jobs to you all and
recompense any (?) loss in kind
or in pay cash as you intend.”

In dismay the rain paused.
With disgust the greens faded.
One farmer with strength gained
in jarred tone pleaded:

“Sirs, we live by plough.
Know not the jobs you give.
We know your sweet love.
Only a clever maneuver
to root us out from this farm field.”

Then came the stunning command
“You give land in volition
or else we take it by compulsion.”

With a thunder, resumed the rain.
With rain, their eyes showered all along.
All of a sudden descended over them
a threatening shade of gloom
erasing their volatile dream

The spluttering rain abashed
under the ominous calm
of the impending doom.
Slumped the dejected tillers
on their own adored soil
sobbing violently with fear.

Their tears wetting their Earth dear,
their trembling hands pressing the clods
and their nails scrapping the dirt
as if ploughing for the last time.

But of course this time
no grain or gain for them, to collect.