A Strange Tale Poem by Saroj Padhi

Each day the same old story
of loss and despair, of success and failure,
of sudden break-ups of old ties
and new love looking for glory;

of births unwanted,
beauty mutilated
march of masks in the fair
and death due to despair,
doldrums and worry,
in the midst of excitements new
and expectations in flurry;

of the daily battle
between filth and flowers
sun and shadow
burns and bowers;

and the enigma of life
as a light, curved smile
in midst of disease, damnation,
drug, defeat, drunkenness
ruptures, riddles
and Nature's taunting ires!