મા....ઉન્ટ હાવર્ડ, ઓરેગન

મા....ઉન્ટ હાવર્ડ, ઓરેગન

ઉપર હું ,ને પવન,
સુસવાટા મારતો, થથરાવતો.
બીજું નહીં કશું.

"હજુ એવોજ રહ્યો ભૂલકણો,
ના કોટ ના સ્વેટર !"
ના જાણે ક્યાંથી આવી અથડાયો
કર્ણે મધુર રવ, પરિચિત
પણ ચિંતિત

તને આકાશ ઓરાડું ? પવનને પડકારું?
ઠંડી તારી કેમ ઉરાડું
છે ય અહીં, બીજું નહીં કશું !

કોણ? હું પૂછું ત્યાં તો હટ્યું વાદળ
હતું જે સુરજની આગળ
થઇ થોડીક ઉષ્માની લ્હાણ

" મા" તું ? મેં જોયું ચારે કોર, ક્ષિતિજ લગી
ના મળી કોઈ ભાળ
બસ, મંદ મંદ હસતી હતી ધરતી
પ્હેરી ડુંગરાઓની હારમાળ
બીજું કશું નહીં
-ભરત શાહ

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

NEAR FORT POLK, LA

I could not believe what the young lady at the DRIVE IN window of SONIC told me when she handed me my order of Cheese Burger Jr., Sweet Potato Tarts and Route 44 unsweeten ice tea.

I took the bag and extended my hand with one five and three one dollar bills to pay.

“Your lunch is already paid for Sir” she told me smilingly.

I thought she was playing with me.

“No, it is not ma’m." I returned her smile, waving the dollar bills.

“I can not take your money Sir.” She continued to my surprise.

“Who paid for me?” I exclaimed looking right in to her blue eyes to make sure she was sincere.

“The lady in front of you.” She said. I yet had to be convinced.

“Why? A total stranger?" Said I looking at an SUV waiting to turn left on Pine.

“ No, to her, you were the honorable veteran behind her car. She was very proud to buy you a lunch." The young lady said.

I did sense touch of truth in her story now.

“That is mighty nice of her.” I said.

“It is Sir.. People do that sort of things around here for soldiers.” She told me.

“Ma’m, I am neither a veteran nor a soldier. I can not accept this free lunch.” I insisted to pay

“Sorry Sir, I can not take your money. Your lunch is paid for.”

“Do me a favor. Please keep this money. Next time, when a soldier stops by here for a lunch, just tell him it is paid for already in appreciation.”

“I will do that Sir.” She took my money with a very warm and appreciative smile.

“God bless you, Sir!” I heard her say as I was pulling away from the window.

Bharat Shah