THEN

The feeling of cold dew drops on bare toes,
The chirping of birds,
Smiling roses
Smoking chimneys
The dancing of trees
The songs of the wind,
The taste of sweet spring water
The fragrance of virgin flowers
The calmness of the silent morning
The rage of the afternoon sun.
The cool shade of Mighty chinar
The laughter of children playing
The hue of the sun dying behind the mountains
The sight of the moon resurrecting
The lullaby of prayer calls
And Dreams.

NOW

Noisy alarms
Disturbing door knocks
Notification checks
Cold good mornings
Compulsory smiles
Fake acquaintances
Crowded streets, virtual solitude
Cocktail of expectations and responsibilities,
Stiffness of spine, drowsy head
Dry lips, sunken eyes
Quick lunch breaks,
Sweat,
Cars honking, traffic jams
Unwelcoming homes,
Low-calorie diet
Sleeping pills
And nightmares.

© Shafat_Ibne_Ali