Life in red

Life in Red

The light turned red in disdain
The costly cars screeched to a halt
As if to breath regain
While the music beat hard.

Then he came, tapping on the windows
The contorted face exhibiting myriad sorrows
The frail hand waving the Tricolour
The sign of national pride and valour.

The cheeks covered by cakes of soot
Homing all the roads’ dust and the dirt
Punctuated by streams of dried up tears
A ‘museum of mortal fears’.

Limping on feet naked
The festering wound
Clothes in desperate tatter
Victim of attack of terror?

Terrorists?
Yes.
More than the people who caused them this
Are those who stare blankly and pass.

Green, the traffic light turned
Away the ‘terrorists’ in hurrying cars sped
Leaving the Life on the road
Permanently in red.