Not this time

This time when that little girl
comes to me with her bruises,
I will not blow gently at her wound,
nor distract her, I will let her pain grow.
Not this time.

This time when I see pain on faces
I will not sing the song that eases pain
I will let the pain seep in, deep….
Not this time.

This time I won't apply any balm
Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes
and turn your head
While I gingerly apply medicine
I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds…
Not this time.

This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness
I will not run to solve the problems
I will let them become complicated…
Not this time.

This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty
I will not make a new beginning
Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job
I will not let life easily return to normalcy
I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths
I will not let the blood on the walls dry out
Nor will I let its colour fade away
This time I won't let it become so helpless
That you can't tell blood from paan-spit
Not this time.

This time the wounds need to be watched
Carefully
For a long time
Some decisions are needed
And then some brave moves to be made
We have to begin somewhere…
This time this is what I have resolved

Courtesy: Original poem written by Prasoon Joshi