When the night embraced creatures into her arms Moon was shining beautifully on her crown Stars glittering on her black silk Winds blowing like her lullaby songs Hypnotising all beings through her charm I saw a lonely maiden from afar So miserable that I could not react I asked her who was she? And about her misery She looked at me silently Like I was the culprit behind this There was strange silence between us Night was like audience watching an interesting show She had burns on her skin Black blood oozing out of it Something was extraordinary about her Around her I felt soothness and peace Yet her sadness overshadowed everything After some thought I came forward To lend my helping hands towards her She had tears in her eyes Her broken heart was vividly described She said she is the 'Earth' Who had given birth to this world One that we call our "mother " Once so beautiful and beloved Had beautiful healthy and soft skin Very long and silky hair Beautiful lively clean eyes and fresh breath Pure blood once ran inside her veins Everything was soothing to heart and brain Then her children all grew up From there on her misery begins Honourably called her mother Started exploitation under this title Thought of her as their lifelong unpaid maid Caring Nanny and capable Assistant Exposed her to harmful chemicals and poisons Making her skin to be burnt Black smoke off the factories In the name of betterment and development Making her breath impure Like an emphysemic patient she was very breathless Struggling for every single breath Keeping her hands was on her chest Feeding her unclean fluids Causing her body to degrade Cruelly cutting down her thick long hair For their extra so called comfort No one had pity on her They made her miserable Ruthlessly killed her other children Always thought themselves as superior to all of them Gave her an eternal pain Physically Mentally Emotionally all she was drained Their carvings kept on increasing Constantly exploiting her for their gain But no one cared about her Thought of her as unlimited stock But they haven't thought of it After she dies how will they live No one will able to survive Their future will be full of their miserable cries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- By member of English exhibition group ~ Deepanshu Raj