SURESH RAMPHUL
Not so long ago
An old woman
Arrived in a village
She didn’t know too well.
She met a fruit-seller
By the roadside
And asked
If the social security office
Was still a long way ahead.
The man replied
It would be fifteen minutes
Not more.
She took a long sigh.
She seemed tired, anxious,
And distressed.
“Oh! My God!” she grumbled.
“It’s such a long way to go.”
Some hours later
The old woman returned
Met the fruit-seller
And thanked him.
“Was it a long way?”
He asked.
The woman smiled.
She seemed cheerful.
Her work had been done.
And she appeared satisfied.
“No, not at all,” she replied
Good-humouredly
“The journey back was short
In fact.”