The Vegetable Seller

She stood by the road

With a blank look at a distant nothing

Through the busy traffic

Still trying to come to terms with the present

As if to complain -  Why me!

She traced her look back at herself,

And then, at her dress -

The one she had very gently starched.

It's  crumbled and soiled now,

With a slit through the middle,

By the unruly car, that almost ran her down.

Her lips moved, but didn't utter a word

Was it that her mind was overworked

Or, was she was struggling to find an answer to -

How can I step out - tomorrow!

Her glance shifted back at the helpless cart

That lay on its side and two wheels still spinning

In the air

With the vegetables strewn over the road.

And the cement bag that'd shield the vegetables 

from the heat of the sun

Now lay in a puddle.

Her  tense mind racing from one thought to another

gave her a shock as it got stuck

And she whispered 

How do I feed my little girl tonight!

As one passer-by stopped by,

He was joined by others 

And, as they gathered 

The day's stock that lay littered on the road

Akka was gathering her courage

To deal with the blow

That left her visibly hurt.

But you could notice her zeal and the grit

As she forced a smile 

with the resolve

I've got to be strong, for my little girl!

© Sashikant Mohanty