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The Lament of the Seasons




It is the solstice of summer- 
The once-wan days now carry on them 
A well-worn tan; the haggard, quiet summer-
An unprecedented affair- bids to bid its final adieu.
No smoldering sun having dappled on human skin,
No sunscreens applied nor shades and akin-
Summer heat scorched some denizens of the undergrowth-
And allowed the marble, granite, iron, copper, cement
To sunbathe, unwatched. That was the Sun's
Only achievement- and so watch the summer, wry and wistful,
Say goodbye with a troubled heart.
Well enough, the summer has closed,
To pass the baton to the cold, confident monsoon.

Watch crimson leaves being swept off the trees- 
Roots are torn off the damp soil, waxy upper coverings,
Are molted off plant skins. There is a lot of noise,
But the fact remains that the chaos is gone.
No umbrellas dotting the sidewalk, no mackintoshes fluttering
In the damp wind- no puddles being splashed in by busy adults
Driving their serrated tyres to cross and dot each playful puddle-
No frolicsome band of blustering young kids, jumping wantonly
Into the muddy reaches of an inviting water-pool.
Monsoon is here, loud, bold and clear- with knee-length 
Water pools washing tiny creatures away on a joyful water-ride-
But there is scarcely anything more. There are just limp, routine
Sounds. Serene to the ears of those who can be with them.

The chaos is gone. All of it is gone- and as monsoon arrives to enrich
Earth's anatomical dregs, which are in fact her riches,
She merely does her duty half-heartedly, dispassionately-
For it is another matter to be met with rebellious chaos-
It is another matter to be defied, to have to chide the populace-
Into staying at home and not scurrying about with their 
Cumbersome paraphernalia.
It is cumbersome in itself to reproach the transgressors,
To chide the defiance, but it is delightful for the monsoon.

And so the seasons wear pallor on their seasoned technique
Of showering their grace on the world and allowing 
Us humans to thwart it- then catching us unawares,
With fierceness that we aren't able to overcome or defy.
Now, bewildered, unopposed, unwelcomed
One melts into the next, unobtrusively, as if contended
By no-one. We hardly notice that summer is here
And we scarcely wish it well when it's nearly gone.

                                                                    Image Courtesy: www.thehansindia.com

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