The Unspoken Love (poem)

The woman stood there,
swaying her baby, slowly,
never looking at it,
looking at others standing near her;
her other boy was sitting,
on the footpath that was used to set foot on,
above the kid was erected, a tiny shop,
it only sold poison: cigarettes and paan*;
the mother was still looking at others,
an expression more of worry than anger,
more of mercy than frustration,
she, with her child, were standing,
amidst grime, dirt and sewer water,
cars passed by, splashing on clothes of passer bys,
the cars were blaring at each other,
the silent mother stood confidant,
facing the world head on.



*Paan: Betel leaves combined with areca nuts. Carcinogenic. Used as a stimulant.