Collapsed to his feet
gasping for breath,
aghast eyes
despaired, searching for life,

His strength defied him
Sanity blurred and hazed
limbs slacked and sore
bereaved and dismayed

While everything left him
charred him to some dusty ash
yet shimmering in the gray residues
was his dwindling hope

And that hope alone
instilled in him some magical verve
giving his miserable self
a resurrection that he deserved.

Copyright © Shantanu Baruah