Another Summer Afternoon Poem by Bishnupada Sethi

Another brisk summer afternoon was it,
On foot, we were hurrying up.
Still a few miles away was the market,
Mid way, on a barren stretch of path
The sand dunes, lines of tall palm trees,
Fleets of nest ward birds had added
A dimension to the games nature played
Between the dry land mass
And azure blue sky.

Pleasant things were floating in the mind
What things I would do and buy!
Too restless I was-
Desires were propelling my tiny feet.

All of a sudden and from the east
Gust of cool breeze blew the sand all over.
Before we'd comprehend anything
In stunning moments of few seconds
There were bright flashes of light.
A gigajoule of energy impounded
Almost shattering the earth
With loud thunder and shock waves.
There were fumes billowing as
A tall tree was ablaze.
We were caught awestruck.
I lost my voice and strength
Being so close.

An hour or so later-
When I opened my eyes
To the soft call of my mother
I witnessed her anxious,
Yet a kind face wherein
There was no fear, no pain.

I wondered how-
She had carried me
Over such a long distance
On her not so strong arms
To the nearby habitation
Not at all losing any cool
Despite what all she went through!