begum - mhk iii

can we...
here
she walks dazed
surrounded by love
..................and
impending death
there is plenty of love
not enough of death
she wants him to stay
or take her with him

there*
he walks dazed
first the rumble
when he looked back
wife, child, hut
nothing left
he rubbed his eyes

they came
laden with words
they came
with blankets and food

can one live
on words
..................food, blanket?

*earthquake 2005