Munni’s Mother Poem by DILIPBHASKER MATHRA

Munni… Munni… Oh my child
Where were you till now?
Eyes ache… ears twitch
But still no sign of thee
She left in the dawn
Carrying a pot under her arm
Without a single mate
To fetch some water cold and clear
From the stream rolling
Below the mountain spring.

Munni… Munni… Oh my child
The sky is cloudy,
The rain is steady
The storm lashes yonder on the horizon.

I can hear the fearful lament
Of a lark on the tree top far
I feel the coldest breeze
Takes strength slowly and slowly
I see the forest path hidden
In the springing dust and fog.

Munni… Munni… come fast dear
From the grave of wild woods
Mother is dying of thirst
And the dreadful thought of thee

Throb diminished! Nerves perturbed!
Out flanked the death at the door
When Munni reached home weary
Horrified she to see her mother
Lying stiff cold and still.