A Little Compassion

A Little Compassion 

A basket on her head                 She came as if dread

I was in a hurry                 To make my day merry

She gave a knock and checked                 If she could get a consent

She stood there a basket on her head                 She came as if dread

The door I opened                 In sweat she was soaked

She wanted to sell some prawn                 For all her money was gone

She wanted to sell some prawn                 To buy something for her little John

She stood there a basket on her head                 She came as if dread

I was in no mood to buy                 I did not heed to her cry

I was in a hurry                 To make my day merry

My reply was a sharp ‘No’                 Which to her was a rough blow

The day’s routine went on                 Till it was time to yawn

That night when I slept                 I found that I had wept

Unaware, I could recall                 The lady who came with a call

Perhaps, I could have bought those prawns   So that she could buy something for her little John

That face ,for ever it stayed                 In my heart to be weighed

I never saw that face again         For the act from which I could never regain

- Nandini Anandkumar

                                                                 26/5/2020