Somewhere Between Was and Am

A man sat underneath a tree
In the vast overgrowing city,
Among three huge shopping malls,
That stand on the space which once
Were children's playgrounds,
Mossy swamps and rice fields.

He was naked,
Despite the piece of cloth
Wrapping his loins.
His head was shaved,
Though not his beard.
Staring at the vehicles
Passing and honking before him,
There was barely light in his eyes.

The world around him
Spoke of things not perceived,
Screamed of intelligence unintelligible.
Too much...
Too harsh...
Hush...!

No longer could he hear
The sound of the rushing world.
No longer would he be able to see
The flashing lights before him.
Soon everything would fade.
Soon all would end.
By the end of the day,
As the sun set behind the skyscrapers,
The light would disappear,
And he would be gone,
Though he still was.

Then,

Peace.



---Shamantika---

[Upon my last visit to Surabaya, March 20, 2010]