She Was An Old Woman

The Train finally grinding to a halt

Her journey of days was at an end

Fresh air quelling the reek of filth

As the cattle car’s door was opened

Outside a young soldier in grey

With a look of disgust on his face

Barked orders with utmost scorn

Exposing a character utterly base

With creaking knees she alighted

And joined the macabre queue

Suffering the cold to be sorted

Her only crime, she was a Jew

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When examined at the ramp

By a man wearing a white coat

She barely managed to speak

For thirst clenched her throat

At her old and withered frame

The man for an instant stared

Then deftly pointing to his left

“That line!” he curtly declared

Solemnly, she walked to join

The rank in which she fit best 

Women, children, old, infirm

All desperately craving rest

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When the slowly rising smoke

She saw over the building, loom

Naively ignorant she remained

To the cuing of her pending doom

Unsure she was whether fatigue

Or the smog, made her eyes water

Blurring her already weak vision

And briefly forcing her to totter

But both deception and hope

Her weakness, tried to quell

And she continued, trusting

That all would soon be well

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When ordered tersely to strip

And stand naked with the rest

Though overcome with shame

She without protest, undressed

Hanging her clothes to later reclaim

She set her feet on the stone floor

A strange chill running up her spine

When ordered to the bath hall’s door

And as she entered the crammed room

She caught a fleeting glimpse of light

Then the heavy door slammed shut

The long day giving way to eternal night

- Kartik Shastry

A Stoker’s Life

Angrily erupts, the grey steam

A creation of my punishing toil

And as I tend the hungry gleam

The heat makes my blood boil

                                                          

With little rest in hours eight

Fatigue, my body barely fights

Load upon load into the grate

Even the shovel’s handle bites

Yet my will refuses to relent

For my loved ones I must feed

Though my might be so spent

Every penny does fulfil a need

Thus, I shall suffer this sorrow

Till I earn my share for the day

Then be back again tomorrow

As, for me exists no other way

-Kartik Shastry

Mind v. Heart

My mind reproachfully questions,

While my heart blatantly craves.

And I can choose one or the other.

But, which cons and which saves?

About obligations and purpose,

My mind relentlessly exhorts.

But with opinions of its own,

My heart convincingly retorts.

The latter vehemently asserts,

That such a life is a mere sham.

For in the web of responsibility,

Our happiness, forever we damn.

And though only one may prevail,

My verdict, is in perpetual pause.

Since after all, they  are both mine.

How do I judge my own cause?

-Kartik Shastry 

Winter

Winter, you are the queen of all seasons

Ethereal and beautiful for so many reasons

The shedding of leaves beckons your birth

As the joyful wind gently whispers in mirth

When you grow stronger, with age and time

All things witness, your splendour, sublime

And even the mighty sun, forced to relent

Rests hidden aft the clouds, humbly bent

Then comes along, your fair sibling, snow

Making all things exquisite, pale and glow

Transforming this world, into a realm divine

A glimpse of heaven in an earthly confine

Tired and old, then you gradually, wane

But even at your loss, there is very little pain

For winter, you benevolent harbinger of spring  

Even in your demise, rife blossoms you bring

And once you depart, your return all await

As, with time, summer and rain also abate

Then one day, the miserable shower is gone

Lo and behold!  Winter, you arise again, reborn

-Kartik Shastry 

The Ward

Such a wicked place, I wonder

A silent witness to lives asunder

Wretched stench of death in the air

Mingled with cries of pain and despair

And helpless Angels, in fluttering gowns

Floating, bearing sombre frowns

Who often upon me, bestow a glare

Stressing my pointless presence there

With immense strength, I barely quell

The urge to flee, this embodiment of hell

For forced, I am here to stay

As a dear friend, withers away

Sorrow and fear in thoughts abound

Born of suffering that thrives around

And as towards sleep, I begin to stray

For swift respite, I quietly pray

Awoken at midnight, by a ghastly wail

Cringing, as I sense myself turn pale

I open my eyes, feel fear rebound

Seeing, my friend’s, panting mound

As I stare, with a gasp, his earthly bonds sever

Weakly I watch his soul, depart forever

Trailed by a lifeless gaze, profound

A sight which, my mind, shall eternally hound

As they gather his earthly remains

I hope, salvation, his spirit attains

Then solemnly, walking out the door

I cannot help but, myself, abhor

For as my friend endured torment

All I did was, shamelessly lament

And, suddenly I realize, pain swelling my core

His death granted, my loathsome wish of before

-Kartik Shastry 

The Martyr

There was once a young man

Whose life with violence, was fraught

Overflowing with regret and anger

Vengeance, his distressed heart sought

But latent his hatred, within him, lay

For he lacked the means to attain his end

Though, very cunningly, biding its time

To avenge his pride, that was yet to mend

On his way home one early morn,

Accosted he was, by a bigot in disguise

Saying he was a messenger of God,

Claiming himself to be wisest of the wise

Preaching a sordid lesson of death

He alleged, damaged pride could be mended

Wanting the man to be a martyr

He declared, “Only with violence, can violence be ended”

With the sermon over

His hatred fiercely incited, the man found

Reasoning against reason,

He sensed rage within, vigorously begin to pound

His judgement clouded

Accepting the bigot’s words, as solemn truth

To silence his seething heart

The man impulsively resolved, to martyr his youth

Then resuming his walk home

He came across a crowded market place

When arose a flicker of doubt

As he rested his eyes on a baby’s untainted face

Suddenly his heart melting within

He stopped in his tracks, compelled to wonder

Was vengeance truly necessary?

Or was he just committing a dreadful blunder?

Slowly realization dawned

That such revenge was a worthless fate

He finally understood

That all hate does is breed more hate

His mind, at ease

Heart at peace, he decided to move on

A sudden flash and thunder

The light from his eyes, was forever gone

- Kartik Shastry

For Minni

A pure gleam that lit our lives, 
Can shine brightly, no more 
As its soul, has left its abode, 
Amidst the heavens, to soar 


And though we hurt for our loss, 
We are forced to bid adieu 
Destined to cherish, for our lives, 
Our loving memories of you 


-Kartik Shastry