Dr Molly’s poem explores a thrilling journey, but tragedy strikes when an air crash halts dreams, freezing hope, and revealing life’s fragility, exclusively for Different Truths.

On the verge 
               of a trip
to see, 
              observe
the world 
         in Europe,
busy packing, 
mind brewing
         with the
must be 
        requisites
on and off
         the journey,
       the sojourn, 
expectations
soaring, 
          thrill of 
anticipation, 
      mounting up,
sudden comes
        the shocking 
  news! 
the air crash 
        so horrific 
 atrocious

that takes away
     human lives
so many in 
         number...
 
 it freezes all 
          spirits! 
 
wherein lies
    the relevance of 
    calculations
           human?
all hopes, dreams
              burnt to 
ashes in a 
     hapless moment!
 
how many a 
    pulsating heart
          strung on 
compulsions
         immediate 
    demolished
traceless...
 
there in the
              group 
was our girl,
      the hope of her household,
         working as
nurse in the UK  
        the one prop and 
             support
of a family, slogging 
         staggering 
on its feet...
 
how many
      more, such
lost, lost for 
             ever...

I pack up
             things
my spirits
           frozen...
 
daughter
       calls up
' mamma, your flight,
        Air India?'
 
stoic comes  
    my answer
evasive,
    'dear, remember
          the song 
I often
     sang for you...
" whatever, 
            will be 
will be" 
     we just the 
   hanging puppets
tethered to 
      uncertainty
        that hovers...

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr. Molly Joseph

Dr Molly Joseph, a bilingual professor and poet from Kerala, has published 26 books, including 18 poems, two novels, and two storybooks for children. She has edited "A Handbook of Contemporary Ethics" and works for values, global peace, and togetherness. Dr Joseph has won national and international accolades and represents India at SAARC and FOSWAL literature meets. She believes in the power of the word and writes boldly on contemporary matters.

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