Speechless Speech Poem by Sachidananda Panda

While negotiating my steps alone on the slippery pavement
Amid the nauseating evening air after a mild drizzle
My eyes could rest on a pallid geometry at a distance
Neighbouring few stray dogs and orphaned animals
The dingy odour of drenched animals mixed with
The serpentine drainage that flowed nearby
To clear my query, I closed in to inspect

To my utter dismay and surprise I could discover
A pair of sparkling eyes staring with unease
Unkempt strands of loose locks covering the face
under the tattered garments, too less to hide
Sketches of ribs being wet and shivering wild

It was enough to ignite a convulsion, some rare spasm
Unnerving my entire limbs to move further, even a step
Those wistful eyes caught me captive and shackled my legs
Testing the strings of inhibitions and my upbringing
To feel the immediate needs sans any ambiguity
The Cold silence wrought on her face
Perhaps! Was desperate for some help

I looked around perturbed to find ways and means
If I could do something to bring some respite
As I could notice an approaching vendor on a trolley
Dispensing tea, without much delay I had to rush in
To get two cups of tea and had to scurry to reach at
Before words are exchanged two trembling hands
Crept out of the confinement to receive
One, after another, slurped by every drop
Two drops of tears came rolling from those blank eyes
Signalling a sense of relief

I can poorly recollect when, during those few moments of stay
How it squeezed out tears in me with awe and empathy
As The orange street lamps were sickening under the fog
Amid the curious mixture of vehicular horns and wailing dogs
I was witness to the ordeal under the broken rest -shed
Finding distinction between life's different forms
The finest creation of God and of the stray dogs
On A Tate-a-Tate with poverty,
By means of speechless speech

©Sachi-5th- Oct-2020
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