she sobbed, sitting in one corner of the room
her mother cried silently
as she made roti* of the leftover dough
the man of the house, gone forever.
the daughter lost a father
who promised to buy her a doll
the wife lost a husband
who promised to provide food
outside the house -
the cattle hung their head in sadness
a caring owner lost.
the land - dry, barren and broken into pieces
no drop of water left,
tears dried up in scorching heat
it lost the man who promised rain.
thundering heard in the distance -
a call for the clouds to gather;
to mourn the death of the farmer -
A life lost in vain.
*roti: A traditional flat Indian bread, normally cooked on a griddle
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