The Kollam Tragedy Poem by Kishore Kumar Das

O, Mother
they had gone to see you
to see the bursting of crackers
celebrating your greatness
but alas!
the euphoric moment was short-lived
before knowing anything
some were burnt alive
and many were half-burnt
the tragedy, unimaginable
the agony, unexplicable
some attained salvation
and many were left in the trauma life long
pain, pain everywhere
cry, cry everywhere
Is it....
the greatness of each moment
the mystery of life
What can I do, Mother?
let me chant your name every moment
lest I may dissolve in the next moment.