Rains, Riots: Two poems by M G Warrier

Scribbling some broken memories, as they come to mind...
M G Warrier

Rains
The skies broke out
Clouds burst
Lightning...
Followed by thunder...
Naturally... Sound can't
Catch up with light!
Rains... Heavy wind...
Overflowing river...floods
Devastation...
Uprooted trees...
Squirrels and birds...
Holding on... shivering...
Animals...
Some swimming...
Some floating...
Live...dead...
I'm not alone in the boat...
Someone throws out water,
Accumulated inside the boat...
Someone prays...
A child smiles...
Enjoys the waves...
Formed by the row...
Someone asks me:
"Do you know swimming?"
I say, "Yes..."
"That may help you...
Survive longer..."
I could guess...
The threat... Just "longer"

2

Riots...
Men... and women
Running... howling
Crying... shouting
With bags... bundles of clothes
With infants on shoulders
Buildings in flames...
I move on
Travel in three sub-urban locals
Before reaching Victoria Terminus
Along the way
Witnessed horrifying destruction
Fire, blood, abundoned belongings
All the way...
VT railway platform
Reminiscent of flight of populations
From one geography to another
During famine time
A "surrendered" crowd...
Old men and women sleeping on the floor
Youth arguing loudly
Children crying
Mothers looking on helplessly
Staring at the next uncertain moment
I locate my reserved sleeper class compartment
In Jayanti Janata 
Which will take me to Kerala
In two days...
Packed...no space to move and search numbers...
My seat is already occupied...
I'm allowed to sit somewhere...
People are leaving Mumbai...
(Story inconclusive...)

BP/3024

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