Black Skies

Black Skies was first published in November, 2021 in Indian Periodical, a contemporary literary magazine focused on fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Here’s the link:
http://indianperiodical.com/2021/11/black-skies/

Another day, another morn,
As far as any eye could see.
The sun has brought another dawn,
The light but now comes fleetingly.

The skies that once were brilliant blue,
Now are wrapped in veils of death.
Venom falls where once was dew,
And stifled now is every breath.

The children used to run before,
The greens were filled with joyful shrieks.
But now only the black rain pours,
Strangled voices, cannot speak.

The birds they used to soar unbound,
Before the ruin, before the cries.
And now I look, none can be found,
They went in search of better skies.

Choking, choking, tiny lives!
A brutal noose that hangs up there.
Yet none to heed the dying sighs,
And then the silence fills the air.

The vista darkens yet some more,
Burning clouds are everywhere.
The hills beyond, an anguished roar,
This stench of death, we cannot bear!

We gave you, we entrusted you,
Pristine skies and silver clouds.
You cared not, then the winds that blew,
Besieged us with these deathly shrouds.

And now until the eye can see,
Far away and yet beyond.
There is no one to hear the plea,
A day amidst black skies has dawned.