"Change" by Uday Shankar Ojha

The last cold bite of the year together.

Ice, wish you could fossilize the cream

As an oasis to the desert

Of my dry years to come.

The inevitable ones

Willing to leave me

At once,

Cutting my branches,

Pruning twigs and leaves;

Prick but tear me not apart.

Uprooting costs dearly,

Takes life,

Bit by bit.

You see very often

The deserted sere roots too

Grow greenish

Once the tap leaks.

Hopes do die

And dying faith

Fails to see the last look.

Don’t you all feel the same?

The shame of being a burden?

Blankets still cover winter.

Summer shines alone.

Uday Shankar Ojha is a professor of English and former Dean, Student Welfare at Jai Prakash University, Chapra, Bihar, India. He has authored/edited many books on literature and has lectured widely across his country. He is prone to singing ghazals past midnight and has a hard time saying no to rice, lentils and curry despite his gym trainer advising against full Bihari meals. Regardless, he manages to stay in shape. Uday has captained his district cricket team and has been a table tennis player in the 80s. He can be reached at udayshankarojha001@gmail.com