Summer Inferno in
Nagpur (a Poem)
My
city is known for three things mainly
Its
sizzling summer, syrupy oranges and sufficient foliage
Life
here is peacefully slow and slumberous
It’s
fine, slow and moving, life goes on,
In
poetry of the west
Summer
seems cozy and comfortable
Summer
is the time of infinite fun
It’s
time for romance, revelry and excitement.
Oh!
But for us, It is not so,
Eastern
countries face the Sun face to face
Closer
to the sun,
The
dazzling, scorching,
And
blistering fire ball,
That
you are.
In
my city you look
Merciless,
heartless, and unforgiving,
You
appear ruthless, pitiless, and hardnosed
Making
the clime unbearable and agonizing
Shading
of autumnal leaves,
Scraggly
looking trees,
Want
of any greenery all around.
Dry
brown leaves scattered on the ground
Dirty
looking ground, all creepers gone and turned into spikes.
Birds
are not to be seen,
Their
twittering, chirping and cooing become extinct
The
koel bird sings in her piercing but ringing voice
And
that is the only solace from this tough weather.
Winds
become stronger, air becomes hotter,
The
tar road in my city seething under duress of heat
Start
melting, vaporizing, thawing like molten path
Roadside
shady trees are only escape from this summer inferno.
At
home and office fans blow hot vapours
The
sound of coolers are heard in every house
Air
conditioners are in things for well-to-do people
Which
make them forget the heat
But
that is only indoor comfort
Houses
get warmer
All
masked, scarf covered faces on the roads
But
some people make hay while the sun shines
Sugarcane
juice kiosks, jaljira and lemon cold drink centres thrive,
Thirsty
throats, looking for chilled water,
Some
earthen pots are kept for thirsty people.
Ice cream parlours doing roaring business
Kulfi thelas are
thronged with heat-hunted people
To seek
some respite and relief from this conflagration,
The scorch touches some times 48 degrees,
Turning the normal life into troubled
trepidation
Of turbid turmoil and feel of a dreary desert.