ENDINGS (Haibun): Snigdha Agrawal

Snigdha Agrawal

Through the labyrinth of life, climbed, fell, and injured me. Undeterred made many more attempts.  Giving up, was never an option.  Writers are made of sterner stuff they say and with that dogged persistence forged ahead to reach the pinnacle, focusing on the ornate gates.  Life's white moments stand in sharp contrast to episodes of barren stages.  Saffron monoliths like shaved heads of the saints waiting to welcome the lost me, under the blue umbrella of kindness.  An indulgent waning moon, says "Atta girl...never mind if there are no stars on your lapels.  You did what you like best and lived it till the end as one inglorious, albeit with a heart loaded with happiness.  How many can reach that status".

      not all paths end here
      reassurances brighten
      what is an image?

Shakti stands on one leg inside the cave temple, eyes questioning. Who are these self-appointed saints, saffron-clad, dictating the 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' for women?  A cover-up for escapades by men!  Hush! girl...return to base.  You have unfinished tasks, and biases to erase.  Go down the way you came and meet headlong your fate.

    I step to the edge
    look to fight another day
    A hot sun chases
***

BIO: Snigdha Agrawal (nee Banerjee) is Bengali born, raised and educated in a cosmopolitan environment, with exposure to the eastern and western cultures, imbibing the best of both worlds.  With more than two decades of experience working in the corporate sector, her outlook on life is balanced, which reflects in her writings. A versatile writer, she writes all genres of poetry, prose, short stories, travelogues, and hotel/restaurant reviews on TripAdvisor, under the pen name ‘puchka’.  A published author of three books, the latest titled MINDS UNPLUGGED Lockdown Stories and Rhymes for The Six to Sixteen, is available worldwide on Amazon. Amazon.com Flipkart, and other global platforms.  An intrepid traveller, her travel diaries can be accessed in word press blog: randomramblings52.  She lives in Bangalore (Karnataka), India.

---

Setu, January 2023