Transient emotions

I stroll by the slums

I see hardship and poverty all around

The little 11yr old boy reads aloud his lessons under the candlelight

I smile at him and he smiles back

For I know education will be their guiding light

And this hardship is only ephemeral

I stroll by the red light areas

I see shattered dreams and torment

The 15yr old teenage girl auctioned to sell her body

The middle-aged man held and dragged her to satiate his libido

I smile at her and she smiles back

But I do not see any means for her escape

For lust is not ephemeral

I stroll by the railway station

I see a soldier bidding adieu to his newlywed wife

I see time stopping for a moment as they caress each other

I smile at the couple and they smile back

For I know the moment is ephemeral

I stroll by the old age home

I see love and solicitude lurking all around

I see wrinkled eyes peeping through the window with hopes to be taken back home

I smile at the 78yr old lady and she smiles back

But I know their stay there is not ephemeral

I come home and feel drained

I scream in anguish

For I cannot put sorrow in a crate

For I cannot stop time

But isn’t life about extracting the eternal from the ephemeral

Shilpa Roy

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