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November 17, 2025

Burden

By Gopal Lahiri

Burden

The stone in my chest doesn't go away,
It sits tight, I can't, I just can't,
can't lighten this burden,
my faces and eyes darken.

This is such a stone -- it can't befriend
Even the rocks and pebbles,
they can only crush them underfoot
the weight of suffering grows
heavier day and night.

Those whose chests aren't weighed
down by stones, I know,
how quickly they walk, how beautifully they eat
with forks and knives in the restaurants,
their lips curve into enchanting smiles,
they make missed calls on their cellphones.

Some lives end like this, not the stone,
But the sun scorches
the ribs of the chest,
The dark night becomes
a mantra-like truth.

The people who came to break
the stone in my heart
left quietly,
my life is now uneventful,
following daily routine,
the eyes are filled with silent tears.







Article © Gopal Lahiri. All rights reserved.
Published on 2025-11-17
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