By Arnab Bhowmick
When I donned the soldier's vest, your joy did light the skies,
To friends ,I spun your tales with fondness in my eyes.
Monthly letters rained between us, brimming with delight,
And each awaited word from you turned my dull days to light.
Upon my leave, you'd greet me with a warm hug so tight,
We'd watch the sea together ,beneath the lighthouse shining bright.
Waves would kiss our feet ,your hand would trace our names in sand,
A fleeting ,splendid moment ,carved by love's gentle hand.
In my final relentless task ,I failed to pen a line,
When I returned from battle's storm ,your smile I couldn't find.
I came to find your home abandoned, empty and bare,
I sought your friends for answers ,but your presence was not there.
A bitter truth was told: you've wed a man from the countryside,
How could you break a bond so deep and cast our love aside?
Was it wealth that lured you , or your kin's unyielding plea?
After years of heartfelt vows, you turned your back to me.
Now by the sea, I linger ,life is a ship that lost its course,
Your visage haunts my teary eyes with a silent mournful force.
In solitude I dwell, where land and sky are grim and cold,
No hunger grips my weary soul ,nor dreams that dare unfold.
Even bullet scars cannot wound as deeply as this ache,
Why pledge your heart if promises are quick to break?
My cries are swallowed by the sea, lost in its endless wave,
Regret fills my every breath ; I wish the war had been my grave.