World War Veteran. Poem by RAVIKIRAN ARAKKAL

he limped from chair
To chair, walked along
With the help of a stick,
Sat on the steps
Of the memorial,
recollecting his years of war,
Hunger, pet infested farms,
His lady love of war days,
Their short stay together,
The joy they shared,
The mud which he crossed,
How his stockings took
away his skin after month's
Of wearing, the death
Of his fellow soldiers,
Burst of shells, heavy bombings,
Search for water,
Trip through forests on day's end,
The joyous arrival of news
Spontaneously of winning
The war, his return from war
With one leg less
To his dear wife an daughter,
the passing of years
In peace, leaving his wife dead
His lonely life with dreary dreams
Of his war days to waken up
To a morning of peaceful sky
Looking at him through the window.

Ravikiran arakkal