_{It’s been years since}

_{The old factory has been shut down,}

_{Rust has corroded the shutters}

_{And creepers grow}

_{Where new age transformers}

_{Were once manufactured}

 

_{There’s nothing left,}

_{After the initial protests,}

_{The workers have moved}

_{To other oases,}

_{Some were satisfied}

_{With their payouts}

 

_{While the nameless leaders}

_{Have moved to recreate}

_{Their timeless success}

_{At other organisations.}

_{Only the last few transformers}

_{Still seem to remember yesterday}

 

_{But if you ever happen}

_{To trespass that compound –}

_{You may surprisingly}

_{Not feel sorry}

_{At the loss}

_{That the city may seem to mourn}

 

 For jacanas now prance

_{On lily pads}

_{That crowd on the pool}

_{At the back,}

_{Kingfishers dart}

_{With their kree-kree-kree}

 

_{White breasted hens nest}

_{Where porcelain bushings were stored}

_{And frogmouths}

_{Turn up at the banyan tree}

_{Under which the watchman}

_{Would take a quick nap at noon}

 

_{The testing factory}

_{Has been run over}

_{By ferns and wild lilies;}

_{While fishing cats scurry past}

_{The spare windings}

_{That never powered a machine}

 

_{The old factory}

_{Is still full of wealth}

_{Though it earns not a single rupee,}

_{While locals repent}

_{‘Once upon a time}

_{This was the place to be…’}

 

_{The old watchman,}

_{Now retired}

_{Lives not far}

_{If you talk to him,}

_{He will tell you he can still hear}

_{The hum of the transformers all day}

 

_{But once he stops}

_{You hear nothing,}

_{Except for the Kree-kree-kree}

_{When the kingfishers laugh,}

_{While the coo of the doves}

_{Dissolves in the summer’s noon…}

_{29th October, 2026}