An aching, sobbing emptiness prevails
The mind in stupor wanders...
Listless, helpless like the zombie sails
The wretched waif  ponders.

Melancholic-, moping miserable mood,
Reliving scenarios forgot
Self fulfilling prophecies fret and brood
As Failure to mind is brought!

How poignant when situations mar
For opportunities seldom knock,
Why it was so near and now so far
Self Esteem! How you mock!

Oh, why did this happen so she says..
That angry question again;
Why games mindless the mind it plays
Despite struggles all in vain?

Well what do you do when you have lost?
And bereft of all emotions exhaust..
And just cannot yourself excuse??
Do not accuse and self abuse!
For, while having lost do not obsess
Lose not the lesson in the process!

Rajeshwari Iyer lives in Brampton, Ontario and teaches Chemistry at the College/University level in Toronto. She is the mother of a special needs child and enjoys reading, music and travel. She has contributed poems to SAWF (South Asian Women's Forum), Magazines such as KALA, Marina, quarterly publications based in Toronto. She has also contributed to e-zines such as Poetry.com, Thinnai, and Tamilonline.