A lament for the river

O’ river of yesteryears, where art thou?
A flowing pulsating stream of water cascading over a bent bough
As a young kid I stared in awe from the rocky banks
At the dark mass of flowing water breaking ranks
No matter what was the season,
Your waters were cool, wonder what was the reason.

I loved the rustle of water as it lapped on the rocks
Like the susurration of the wind through dark wavy locks
Come the monsoon the murky waters were turgid and raging
Destruction everywhere like a scavenger foraging.
As the water broke the banks drowning the hutments ,
Displacing the denizens out of its tenements.

Kids jumped and dived from ledges of rock
A carefree life, nothing to take stock
The pollution started little and small
Washing clothes, vehicles by one and all
Then came the factories and the builders dumping into the river
Without heed to the flora and fauna which started to whither.

Now after 4 decades I stand on the same river bank
The river lost under a sea of hyacinth tall and lank.
The water is now dark and sluggish harboring mosquitoes
A foul smell emanating like that of fungi between the toes
Detritus of flowers, plastic, furniture float listlessly
On its placid waters which has lost its energy.

Kiran Kharat