Poems by
Sampath Aniruddha

That’s the day…

a poem by Sampath Aniruddha

As hopes were eclipsed by a frown stitched across her face,
A tear she cried, trickled down her hollow cheek and
Onto the flesh of her new born O’ fairer gender.
Alas silence was her neighbour…

With bruised happiness, she eyed the father,
Who displayed anger and empty hatred.
Thoughts of her future marriage had already infected his thinking,
As to how could he barter her to a good husband with a dowry, all so turbulent.
Unlike her brothers who stood as five,
She proved weak to bring home even a day’s pay.

Confused and clouded by thoughts, he stood there,
Staring at the innocent eyes of his own skin and blood.
Derelicting the true fathoms of paternal love ,he snatched the little one.
Innocently, like a lamb to the slaughter, the baby smiled
In an instant, a sharp knife fell a victim to the mother’s eye…
And with a butcher’s pride, he slit the little one’s throat.
Rich blood dripped onto the uncemented floor…
As the mother sat there, drenched in disbelief.
A tear diluted the blood on the floor,
As he placed the lifeless child in a pool of blood and walked away…