Once upon a time
A river flowed in a land
Giving life to everyone
And ending up in a sand.

The river loved the people
People loved the river back
Hoards travelled across the river
Without sign of any panic or attack.

The lands belonged to tribes
Who were far away from the infernal
But happiness is short lived,
And pain eternal.

The river saw many wars many lives
Red it's colour
She asked herself if
Anyone had any brother.

One fine day they decided
To build a road
The spirit of the remorseful river
Left once and for all her heavenly abode.

The perennial river is lost forever
And her spirit wandering
Looking for a last ray of hope
To find a beautiful spring.

Stories were told of the river
By those who had lived by it's side forever
And all of them started with
Once upon a time there was a river.

© Rakesh Bal.