Flood Victim Poem by Alexander Raju

She was an old woman,
perhaps, in her ninety's,
with thousands of wrinkles,
on her ancient face,
and she stared furiously
at the nature-made wasteland,
for death and devastation
were there no more news.

All her saving of a century
was washed away
in the debris flows
and soil piping,
her fertile farmland,
her home and children
disappeared
within the wink of an eye.

There was fire in her eyes:
‘I'll fight against
this Nature's cruel pranks,
sure, I'll survive,
and get back
what I've lost',
murmured she
staring into the vacuity.

August 14,2019
Kottayam, Kerala