Poem: Solitary Walk

Poem: Solitary Walk

He said, don't depend, be strong........
I surrendered and strived.

Squashed my emotion,
Shackled my tears
Squelched my heart.

Days rolled........

Heart was serene,
Tears arid,
Emotions hushed.

I smiled.Yess! I am strong........

But....

Clay breaks and not bends.....

Time drubbed my strive,
Heart moaned,
Emotion surged,
Tear gushed.

I stood still, teary, defeated and desolate.

Yess, I have lost....

I strived, I failed, failed you too.
Forgive me. I am not strong.......

No, he said no.
He said he will prepare me......

I wiped my tears, smiled and gathered myself.
Stood up, unfaltering, to contest my 'self'......

- Shilu Das

# Ms Shilu Das is a homemaker, settled in Bhubaneswar. She has several stints of teaching English in schools and colleges in Bhubaneswar, Borada and Delhi.