A LOOK AT LIFE-101 BY-SMRUTI RANJAN MOHANTY COLLECTIVE WILL WINS In between you and me Are my will and determination The invisible shadow of my father My mother and her touch of grace and love The collective wishes and goodwill of all The pulse and beats of my nation The bond of love and affection That binds me with others Wishes of my elders and youngsters Standing like a rock The longing for a better tomorrow That pushes me hard not to come out But remain inside and wait For that glorious yesterday to reincarnate Into a golden tomorrow For the sake of me, my family and country Neither I can allow you to come near And kiss me on my mouth, eyes and nose Nor you can cross the barrier on your own And come near and prey on my flesh and blood Till I am true to me, my conviction And the spirit of my nation I can never betray the hopes of millions I can never be the cause of their misery I can not allow me and my family to struggle Against the virus and put others in danger I can never afford to go down tamely to a virus I can not see people dying in numbers I will never let the virus find me in crowded lanes I will let it starve and perish in our empty streets Searching in vain for human bodies I am sure that time is not far When our collective will shall prevail Over the dreaded virus and Our yesterday will return with Renewed grace and vigour Smruti Ranjan Mohanty© #poemA LOOK AT LIFE-101 BY-SMRUTI RANJAN MOHANTY COLLECTIVE WILL WINS In between you and me Are my will and determination The invisible shadow of my father