KNOTS

Enjoying the partnered skipping on rope with friends
the swings in break time, the sharing of lunchboxes at school
not a care of where the world was heading,
which country had a coup, or which country had a war.
No over thinking of what was eaten, or what allergies it would gift.

No religious knots, no racial knots, the only known knots,
of white shoelaces on P.E. day in school.
No panic of shootouts, no scare of terrorist attacks
never heard of deforestations or wildfires.

Never hesitant to talk or help strangers,
muddled mind now sceptic of facial breaks.
Fingers savouring the touch of pen and pencil,
never envisaged their unwanted upgradation to
swipes, likes and dislikes.

Innocent eyes familiar to the sky, chirping birds and starry nights,
squint to locate a star in a skyline of smog.
No malls or food courts to spill overfilled bellies and cupboards,
simple homemade recipes shared over warm company.

No YouTube or google screaming recipes and playlists,
scribbled song and cuisine books languish tattered.
Not carrying phones for clicking and no poses
just simple group photos and visits to the studio to process reels.

Stability, frowned down upon today,
human values wobble still unclear,
when to rest and where to rest.
an unending Ferris wheel,
collapsed mind and body refusing to pause.

Death the final pause, knots broken free at last,
the last change of mortal greed.