The river and the lovers

the river flowed in a torrent

gushing forth in the rains

breaking down banks and

tearing down everything in its path

but somewhere downstream

it met a boy

sitting alone on the bank

while the river cut it from under him

forlorn, with a faraway look

in his empty glassy eyes

the river felt sorry for him

it called out to him

to run to the safety

of the hinterland

but the boy replied:

i'm waiting for her

she said she would meet me here

and i won't miss that chance

river or no river

the river was taken aback

and decided to leave him

to whatever fate had for him

but what does it see

there, on the other bank

is a girl sitting alone

with the same faraway look

and the same glassy eyes

it asked her to leave

and she gave the same reply

i'm waiting for him

and i wouldn't miss it for anything

now this had the river foxed

there they were, the two of them

waiting for each other

but doing nothing to meet

the river couldn't take it

and asked why they chose to do so

and they said:

we can't meet

not until a river flows between us

a river of hate, doubt and mistrust

a torrent of emotions

transient emotions

we know we'll swept away

if we tried to cross now

we are waiting for time

till the river slows down

waiting for the emotions

to turn into feelings

and thereafter into anchors

so that we have something to hold onto

coz the doubts won't all go away

the river will keep on flowing

we are waiting

to build the bridge of love.

-Pic by Basu.