36.THE TRAVELLER’S LAMP

Through thorns and stones, the passer-by;

Feet stung, face crumpled, in soil dry,

Pours burning heat, the sun, melting;

All winds of ember embracing.

Fascinate shadow trees aside,

Tempt fruits with wines red,

Entices coolness of oasis beside,

To plunge in pleasures far and wide.

Never a flower pulled the hands,

Never a wine sipped the lips,

Never a plum tasted the tongues,

Never a tear shed the eyes.

Neither any status- the hands empty-

Nor any splendour, nor luxury,

Nor embellishment, nor pomp,

In its journey from the womb.

The head naked, neither any crown,

Nor dwelled in golden throne,

Nor any ruby, nor emerald,

Never had it any coral bead.

While time passed uncertain end

As the deaf, as the blind,

Those who wore precious pearl,

Mocked: “a destitute”, “a fool”.

In the bundle only cost-less things,

Tear drops, scars of wounds,

Torn, scattered, rags of dreams,

Also the refugee’s silly coins.

Still a treasure, in mind's screen,

The traveller’s lamp in journey alone,

Few ever heard, few never saw,

Few ever felt, few never knew.

Neither impure, nor shattered,

Nor hidden, never falsehood,

Can’t be replaced with any jewel,

“The love forever, unconditional”.

35.MAGIC LANTERNS

Hides setting sun in charming sea;

Tumbles saffron box in lurid sky;

Flowing strands of clouds sweetly hug

Afar mountain slope’s misty fog;

Touching shores, slowly recede waves;

Yonder, a sea-gull in alluring dreams;

Gentle shade, a serene cedar spreads;

In horizon, a gallant golden vessel rises…

Twinkle all tire-less planet gods;

Stars as necklace of coloured beads;

While in still-ness the pea-hens wait,

The fragrance of their soul-mate…

Who waves then all the magic wands

To ripen mangoes in dream-lands ?

Who blazes there all magic lanterns

Of love, over feathery green ferns ?

34.FIRE

The fire in veins, ignited;

That can’t be extinguished;

Never becomes an ash heap;

That blazes again with hope...

The most gentle, the delicate;

The strength of the weak, the light;

Mightier than rocks; the petal,

Live, soft, the glowing crystal !

Sleeps as seeds, germinates as plants;

Blossoms as lavender, keeps and spreads

Its nectar in buds as flames;

Where it melts to kindle, as dews..

In hearts, like hurricane lamps;

Leads in incessant rains and storms...

It snows in marrows, blooms in bones;

Makes the dead alive, away from burdens;

Arises the mind – inconstant,

Unsteady, fickle and transient-

Towards immovable permanence,

With amiable loving glance…..

33. VOID AND VACUUM

            

My little nest, empty and void,

Never bear any bud, the flora aside,

Silent, gloomy, the clock stands still

The canopy, why forgets to smile?

None remains to care as she did.

Echoes, ‘how are you my dear child?

Be careful, don’t do it, say sorry’

And the soothing words ‘don’t worry’.

No one to look through the window frames

To check whether any coconut falls,

Whether gate grills rust or not, then to talk

To passers-by, the village women-folk.

The great hands vanished which softly cut

And pealed ripe mangoes, sweet jack-fruit,

Sliced pineapples and plucked, more

Yellow guavas for me, forever.

The courtyard, vacuum, no footstep,

The plantains search for some new hope,

Seeks the gardener, the pomegranate

With fruits in orchard, its inmate!

From the depth of well, the water, why

Listens for a weak pulley  cry?

The ash covered dormant fire-place

Why waits for a fragment spark?

In the boundary walls, slowly,

Mosses or weeds may seen roughly,

Fallen yellow leaves may cover

The sand grains in yard as shower…

The eyes straightened all vague visions,

The ears heard all aching missions,

The immortal soul to console and soften

Disappear in eternity behind the curtain.

The noble platform never again opens

No splendid saga anymore there plays

Nothing can re-fill the emptiness ever

Except the breath of my precious mother.

32.SLEEP

Life, a miracle but messing puzzle!

Love, marvellous but painful drizzle!!

Memory, blessing but despair, a curse…

Candle, a light but dripping tears.

Wind, a symphony but doom tomorrow,

River, a melody but flooding sorrow,

Dreams, raindrops but pangs shining,

Seasons, lovely but fast vanishing…

So, memories, in silence, rest in nap,

Mind, calmly let to sleep,
Dozing in drugs, Oh! Forgetfulness!!

Freeing all bondage, the scape-grace!!!

Eyes never see though widely open!

Ears never hear though keenly listen!!

Tongues never speak though frequently sob!!!

Nose never smells though sweetly breathe!!!!

While the ages fleeing very soon,

Can we have a journey return??

Can any fallen bamboo sprout

Come back as a sandalwood hut???

While the hearts wound, terribly bleed,

Let the minds swoon with musical reed,

Till they reach the cleansing shores

Of forgetfulness from turbulent pangs….