MARKETPLACE

A Poem by Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta

I walk through the narrow road

Muddy, because of the night-long rain.

Shops on the either side drawing closer,

Further narrowing the already slim lane.

People rushing from all sides,

Hawkers pitch their price;

Each thinks he has won over the other,

I silently wait for my turn in this murky atmosphere.

Still sleeping while I am actually awake,

Still awake in my dreams from the night before.

Annoyed faces, insufficient buy,

Penniless pockets, eyes looking for more.

The lottery-ticket seller

Is the boy who works at the meat shop.

He seems spiritual as he seeks the blessings of a Saint;

The fruit-seller at the corner of the street

Looks unhappy as he pays his rent.

Difficult to survive, painful lives;

Yet hope and faith glitter in their eyes.

The feel of the marketplace is dark,

And thick, it is green like the Gorse;

Though its base may have prickles,

But it also bears flowers.

© 2013 Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta

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Reviews

Solar

soulful depiction of the marketplace - just like the world, it has its thorns and flowers, wheeling and dealing the realities.

Posted 8 Years Ago

zainul

Ranjita,you have a painted a typical Indian marketplace very vividly.
We also have similar marketplace in Bangladesh.
I can imagine your characters very clearly.
Following two lines appear great.
"Difficult to survive, painful lives;
Yet hope and faith glitter in their eyes."