A poignant allegory of environmental degradation, Mukul’s poem uses the sentinel and depleting “milk” to evoke a sense of precious resources fading and a shift in balance, exclusively for Different Truths.
The sentinel constantly watches
Over my house,
I maintain it with utmost care,
The milk in the blood is precious
I fear its depletion.
Still, I sense the blood flow in stasis,
Existence is osmotic,
The milk is in depletion all around,
My milk is diffusing,
The solutes are hence rising
In my blood, they are
The pollutants in the environment.
The sentinel is gasping, fallen,
Giving way to the new balance.
Picture design Anumita Roy
Mukul Kumar is a civil servant, novelist and poet. Presently he is working in the Ministry of Railways. His published works include three novels, ‘As Boys Become Men’, ‘Seduction by Truth’ and ‘Lost in the Love Maze’, and three poetry anthologies, ‘The Irrepressible Echoes’ ‘Catharsis’ and ‘Rhythm of the Ruins’. Mukul has been honoured with the National award for 0utstanding service to the Indian Railways. His latest poetry collection “Rhythm of the Ruins” achieved the distinction of being recommended for Sahitya Akademi Award, 2024.
By
By
By
By