The River That Is No More Poem by Somanathan Iyer

Decades three and half gone by
The last flood of the river that is no more I recall
Till then the river called NEVA if not perennial
Flowed calmly eight to ten months every year
A source of life for hundreds of acres
Spreading to its length both the sides
Wells in the villages never went dry
With abundant springs originating from the river
In the rainy seasons the furious Neva
Flooded the village lands with minimum damages
Canals on both sides carried the waters
Catered the needs of cultivable lands
Childhood memories still lingers in the mind
In the seasons after the rains
Fun and pleasure were our bathing times
Young and old flocked to the river
To take a bath in crystal clear waters
Alas! The nemesis started from early eighties
Effluents from the nearby sugar factory
Entered the river erasing its entity
Perennial is the flow of waste
That seeped into the deep soils
Spoiling the springs that catered the wells
Leaving the waters unfit for use
With pungent smell piercing the nostrils
Not lagging behind politicians of local fame
Grabbed the lands of catchment areas
Allowed colonies for their cronies
With water sources going dry
Only a narrow stream left in between
To flow the wastes of factories nearby
A deep sigh with heavy heart
Only tribute paid for the dead river!