Discordant Ringing And Creaking

Discordant Ringing and Creaking

Composed By---Pijush Kanti Deb

 

An old bi-cycle-

featured ill-fatedly with

a half- broken bell and a rusted chain,

well-familiar to other

for its discordant ringing and creaking noise.

Nevertheless, it is used every morning,

paddled forcefully by the farmer on rough rural road

carrying  a load of heavy green sweats

to fetch some sparkling green papers,

compelled to groan, maybe, in pain of old age

until its reaching the town,

unloading and leaning against an old banyan tree.

It witnesses the same role of its rider,

routine wise argument with the bargainers,

sketching of a brief smile after settlement,

blissful exchange of heavy load for light money,

his counting again and again,

purchasing of a few requests of children and wife

and his enjoying a disposable cup of hot coffee,

sitting beneath the shadow of the banyan tree

closing his eyes with ’’wow’’ in every sip.

 

Thank God ,the daily game is over,

the bi-cycle and the rural rider

start  their return-journey to the pavilion-

not-out with some useful winning runs.

groaning turns into laughing

as the light-loaded by-cycle

and the remunerated and refreshed rider

both start singing,

maybe, accompanied by the discordant

ringing of the broken bell

and the creaking noise of the loose chain-cover.

 

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