A Heartless Heart Poem by Prafulla Kumar Panda

Although, with change of seasons
i've more ages added in
but like the cruel winter they've gripped me in
shedding cold snows to freeze the ground
and pressing me in weaving a cocoon around
where life has become irresponsible
for growth of love
in this shrunken heart has become impossible
and like the callous Covid, callously it grows

hence, pulling in
all virtues and feelings within
now, like a tortoise I gently stroll
when at a sizeable distance I look at
the road where an injured rolls
or some hungry mouths
‘help, help…' shout
only to ignore all, and to feign about
and like the winter sun
when it turns deaf to the shivering buds and passes
like many, I too gently stroll and pass
knowingly unknown to their pain
that's not enough to trickle into the ears of Reason
as for a human
that lies latent during this Covid season

i've heard them tell,
though the size of crown can fit one and all
but it can only be worn by a king and not by all
so, assigning the job to others
just shed the dust off ourselves
though we possess a heart
where feelings do find enough space to dwelllove, kindness, and all
but they hibernate and in need they don't respond
when our motif has been blindfolded
and on conscience, our attitude has wrapped a wet blanket
though, reasonably we do seek help
from the one who walks ahead

©Prafulla Panda, India.
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