DISPASSIONATE

DISPASSIONATE

 

 The Closest friend of my life in school,

The only daughter of the uncle, our neighbor,

Use to a mile to school together,

Reading in the same class, share Tiffin box,

Excelled life both studious, joined college,

Shinning was my girlfriend with results,

Differed subjects of both, I knew her,

Smiling often was teasing she blushes,

Her gentle behavior words soft invite,

Popular in college, leading appeal,

Eloquence her speech on debates,

Chancellor’s prize she got on her talk,

Amazed me from far her analytic mind,

Thoughtful, beautiful mind, expressive,

Her writings in newspapers, magazines,

Appreciated by people, elders, tagged,

Tagged as a talented girl, I felt envy,

Uncle middle-class modest income,

Happy with daughter wished future,

Bright career, position, affluent life,

The happy family was praying for a rosy future,

Crestfallen years after, one day,

Heard news of her life, leading as a teacher,

In a remote village primary school,

She was working as a school teacher, unmarried,

Uncle, her families, were sad, failed,

Failed to convince her, changing her mind,

Stubborn was she, loving simple life,

Passing her life among illiterate kids,

Children in a remote village, poor parents,

Lacking light on modern society, growth,

Undernourished, shabby dress, dirty,

Playing on dusty roads, innocent smiles,

Visited her, my childhood friend, queried,

Protested her decisions, rejecting comfort life,

Her heist education, scholar in college,

Deserving to marry, handsome job, family,

Illogical to waste life here, rustic, poor,

Was listening to her reasons, her decision,

The heartbroken incident happened at home,

Their servant sold his daughter for money,

Inquiries, learned a thousand girls are sold,

So often, for the price, no punishment,

For child labor house servant, unpaid,

Supplying to flash market, ugly reality,

Immune to disasters in life, disregard the rich,

Respected, affluent know, laugh at plight,

Excuses out of the social evil horrible picture,

She decided after her university degree,

Gold medal, published in the news, praised,

She left weeks after to a remote village,

Government teacher, primary school,

Loving village folk immensely, happy in life,

My attire settled career behind past,

Famous established with a wealthy family,

Children reading well, daughter bright,

My friend, in tears, was telling on daughter,

Wished her educated life and established,

I realized she was thinking, never sold,

Realized then I cried, caught her hand,

Thanked, got convinced, returned home,

Knew my friend, enlightened heart,

It was her true education merit, depth,

Forsaken dream of a civilized human,

Accept adoringly her life so dispassionate.  

 

@ Bijayananda Mishra