The Street Not Crossed

The street not crossed

The street that ran, just across

Where I lived, when I was a child

Beyond the street, lay an open land

With fence of wire, laid all along

I could easily see, through the gaps

Waves of knee high, floating grass

Would imagine a world, in my mind

When ever I looked, for long at it

Full of flowers and butterflies

That lay a few steps, beyond the grass

A gentle stream weaving through it

And a tiny hill, to climb upon

Sometimes I imagined, fairies lived there

And Angels came, at night to rest

I longed to cross and jump the fence

Stopped when I heard, the elders say

That the land was owned by evil demons

Who ate all children that trespassed

Afraid of those words, I never did cross

The street that ran, just across

Where I lived, when I was a child

©️ShashikantDudhgaonkar