Other Side of Mercy
By Amita Ray
In an icy cubicle
disinfectants mask
the smell of a visitor in wait
life hinges on tentacles of support
playing a game of hide and seek
as the visitor peeps and beeps--
in the sanctum of heart—
one prays for a miracle
to liberate a trapped soul,
a wish fervent in silvery beams
of midnight moon, brews
in sleepless nights of hot coffee
days, weeks, months pile up, stoic
checks in robotic precision
shield a flickering flame
in cupped hands.
Mocking the farce of simulation
a voice pleadingly urges—
Let fresh air flow free!
Open the windows of laboured space!
Let deliverance light a sparkling speck
In the distant firmament of peace!
Amen!
AMITA RAY, former associate professor in English and Vice- Principal of a College is based in Kolkata. She is a translator, short story writer, reviewer and poet. She has to her credit five volumes of translations. As a writer of short stories she has authored a collection titled Trail Of Love and Longings. Her short stories have been widely published and anthologised. Her second collection of short stories is on the anvil. Her collection of poems UNTIL BIRDS SING was published a couple of years back. She has participated extensively in poetry reading events held in Kolkata and been part of many Poetry festivals in India. She has translated Abanindranath Tagore’s KHIRER PUTUL which was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademy award for translation into English in 2022. This book is also inducted into the Post- graduate curriculum of English in Burdwan University.