It was a desert that seemed like a hell The air was filled with a pungent smell Small pebbles spread on the ground I was alone, no one around Tired and thirsty I sat on the ground Gave a glance to the mounds, As I put my palm on the dust There was something on the crust A small rotten milk-tooth I found Far away I saw a walking Hope Nearer it came, abused me with the words ‘This place is cursed, now u r too’ Dying with thirst I asked for water He pointed in the north and murmur ‘Cursed for the cursed’ ‘Cursed for the cursed’ Stranger was he but more strange what he tell, I followed his directions and saw a well. Horror it was, not a well A gory sight, not a bless Waters are white but here they were red Filthy with chopped hands and head I drank my thirst or it dried itself Close my eyes and comforted myself There I saw a crow with a seed in its beak Followed by another with an empty mouth He attacked the first and both quarrelled They scratch and tore each other’s feather To stop this fight I threw a stone They stare at me (the giant for them) and flew away. Tired and thirsty the giant took a nap Few hours later the clouds came It was unusual but a beautiful sight I soaked myself in the blessed rain The rain turned the seed into poppy; The red and red and red poppy In the barren land where there was no green It was the first life that shoots I saw a mob coming towards me Including the man who cursed me I was frightened and squeezed my arms But it was the poppy that was their host. I asked an armless boy that why they came? He moved his dry, cracked lips and said ‘It was a drone that was employed It was my school that was destroyed’ The writer can be reached at nabafatima.1996@yahoo.com Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2017.