Changes

First published in Setu. Click here to read

Changes
 
There was a time when we dreamt,
Dreamt of freedom under the blue sky,
Freedom to sing and write,
Freedom to express.
 
We thought we could forever stay,
Stay with our dreams unchanged,
Live for the songs we sang,
Live to be free.
 
And then came the frightening night,
Waking up, we saw no light, no day.
We clambered for what we lost, we tried,
We tried but we could not get back that life.
 
That life that had changed —
 
Dying was easier than ever before.
The skies were cleared of smog,
Animals roamed. The grass grew wild.
Climate stirred a new tune...

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