Gauri Gupta (1985 / India)

I stand naked, untouched
Alone, unafraid and still
The sun shies away
And the wind brushes past me
While I stand
Naked and untouched

I kneel down,
And feel the river
Flowing relentlessly, unstopped
Angry, loud, cold and pure
The river shows no mercy
As it beats against the rocks
It knows no love, no guilt
It only knows survival
As it finds its way
And so it flows
Relentless and unstopped

Yet, I fight the river
I yearn for its love
Like a fool,
I keep standing, waiting
The river keeps moving
Paying me no heed
Yet I keep standing
Naked and untouched.