Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, India

(by Ms. Shobha Hariharan, Friend of Ms. Asha Paul, Room No:13, Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam, Coimbatore

The face that spread sunshine and cheerfulness over the globe

Was but that day a face that sunk into the rut

Was it pain, or sorrow from pain, or a bygone tragedy just begun?

Was the devil playing sport with thee?

Oh Jesus! What could it but be?

You cried and crawled and crept and cuddled

Like a new soul on Earth,

Like a helpless child in the arms of a neglected mother.

You waited for the mother to fly

You waited for her love to ply

You waited for the pain to recede

You waited, at last, for Jesus to wave His Robe

No words could sooth the soul that was dying in writhing pain,

No deed, no thoughts, no gestures could ever witness that pain.

I could hear only frets and fumes and cries.

Minutes passed, hours passed, days passed, the

World of Glory seemed to transverse into the world of Doom

My soul sent out shrills of cries,

"WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY? "

Thy reply was, but, with a grin,

"Sincere Prayers Never Fail

I am enjoying this pain!!!!"

Then came that subtle figure in those graceful steps from the blue,

Smiled not he, replied not he, waved not he,

But what magic in those rosy hands did lie!

The little Baby was cured of that gruesome pain

Came that smile over her glowing face.

Cheerfulness embraced her, Relief cuddled her – she slept

The slumber that bereft her of all pains

At last the devil was defeated,

He turned back and murmured

"I leave you; Never Ever will I visit you".

A cumbersome pain was it?

The embodiment of the cruellest pain could I see in thee.

Something the world can never read.