Want Of Evidence Poem by Sharad Chandra

Want Of Evidence

Coming from a house next to our own
I heard one day
shrill cries, swearings and muffled groans
thumps and bumps and shrieks, and thunder
snake-like hissings of pent-up anger.
Then followed sudden loud music,
an assortment of sounds
suppressed sobs, squeals abound—

“what, an innocent life surrounded by hounds? ”
I wondered...
“You stop worrying” he said
“It’s their domestic matter.”
“A domestic tiff, you mean, ” I crossly rejoined
fearing something far sinister.

By evening all was quiet.
The worst seemed over
for them only, alas-
my worries kept hovering around me
eagles over half-eaten carcass.

What was it, I asked myself
who had hit, and who got wounded...
Racking my brain, straining my nerves
exhausted, I gave up thinking,
to drag all commotion out
of the place meant for silent meditation
and prayed O, God whatever,
let it not be the worst!

Next morning, however,
the Metro page of the daily newspaper
put the whole thing down in a few bold letters
ANOTHER DOWRY MURDER, adding below
in smaller font,
the husband let out on bail
for want of evidence
to prove the murder he committed.

***

Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: social comment
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