She stood at the crossroads for eternity
Shadows of passers by, a solace to her feet
The trucks, bullock cart, the sedan and the bus
Even the wind asked, “Shall I carry you forward?”
‘I cannot be hoodwinked by anyone’, she thought.
Pity on her, a fool, a shame- the horns blared.
On a moonlit night, smoke evades the next turn
Footsteps she hear, a silhouette grows from dust
Man with a raincoat and a hat. “Oh, here he is!”
Rejoicing, she let her guard down, her saviour arrived.
The pain she bore has seen it’s light, God opened His eyes.
The end of the tunnel with white light, she exclaimed.
Her eyes looked into his weary eyes, there was surprise
“Why are you standing here, do you not move forward?”
He broke the silence with his baritone voice. Her eyes queried.
“Eras back, when asked if I should wait or move on
Didn’t you ask me to stay? Had you forgotten?” with no much ado,
She let go of her hold, the statue still laments at night.
‘I cannot be hoodwinked by anyone’ she says softly
Hoodlums passing by understands her pain
They help her relieve her grief, and speak to her in brief
Stealing her values, her belongings, her life
They mock her, and destroy her more and more- at last,
One day, her sculptor repents and demolishes her cage.
She flies off like a free bird, higher to the skies.
The poem makes one imagine the Statue of Liberty and the blindfolded Lady Justice , but also a woman who is continually hoodwinked even as she probably claims that it will not be so.
A statue veiled waiting for the savior ignoring everyone else,the pain,the disappointment and the final freedom.Beautiful verse.
An excellent,imaginative,metaphysical poem.
Great composition dear Shalini, keep writing.