The Tragic Encounter

Royal Club for Literature and Peace 

The Tragic Encounter

Sanjay Singh

The Tragic Encounter

During his break, a chance encounter by the wall, 

A woman, emaciated, in tattered attire did he recall. 

A homeless soul, her life a tragic tale, 

His heart filled with melancholy, like a ship set sail.

He wondered when she'd last enjoyed a meal, 

As he watched her silently, a sorrow he'd feel. 

A container filled with food, he quickly obtained, 

Offering it to her, a kindness unfeigned.

She found it hard to fathom such generosity, 

Yet, gratitude danced in her eyes with delicacy. 

Each day, without fail, he'd bring her sustenance, 

Her face aglow with thanks, in every circumstance.

Weeks turned into days, and he awaited with delight, 

Their daily meetings, their conversations light. 

He glimpsed into her life, a captivating tale, 

A wealth of experiences, hidden behind her frail.

Though she shared fragments of her past, 

She remained reserved, the secrets locked fast. 

Yet beneath her weathered exterior, he'd find, 

A compassionate soul, gentle and kind.

Their conversations grew beyond the brief, 

He'd share his dreams, his hopes, his belief. 

But one fateful day, tragedy did intervene, 

A raging car, a scene so obscene.

She was struck down, left in a pool of red, 

Carried to the hospital, but hope had fled. 

It was too late, her life slipping away, 

In his arms, she couldn't stay.

He'd lost the woman he'd come to adore, 

Their moments of connection, forever no more. 

In her memory, he'd carry the pain, 

A life cut short, like a passing train.

Sanjay Singh

documentation: Waffaa Badarneh