The river lay slumbering in a repose deep
Tiny bells chiming in their necks, blissfully grazed the sheep
Sheathed in a tranquillity serene
On the meadow green.
Smoke swirled from a shepherd’s hut as dawn dabbled a roseate streak
On a bird tiny and meek.
In this deceptive calm
It appeared the world was safe and away from harm.
A figure under a tree, bent over a piece of paper was writing
Perhaps waging a wordy duel with a world which was perpetually fighting.
In his mind like a slide show, grisly scene after grisly scene unspooled.
The birds of prey overhead flew, and at the feast below drooled.
One body looked like a sock caught in a tornado, ah he felt anguished.
Another like a dissected frog twitched and then perished.
But where he sat a brilliant glow suffused the sky.
The trees let out sigh after blissful sigh.
The river purred out its incessant melody like a stroked cat.
The sun again hid behind a cloud, like a naughty brat.
Snug in this refuge it refused even to play peekaboo
In the blue beyond, happily a bird flew.
The waves clung to the rocks with abandon utter
Embraced them with ardour and in bashful tones dared to stutter
Their love for the rocks stone hearted.
The bird overhead, this way and that, happily darted.
But the loser poet, like a tortured soul, felt stranded at sea
Would he not be rescued, he wondered, eyes fixed on a distant tree.
Uselessly the pen lay in his hand, but suddenly land ho, came a shout.
But he still continued to be burdened with misgivings and doubt.
Soon in his heart he felt the stirrings of a reward.
He looked up at the sky, and searched for his God.
“What can you do, you arm chair reformist, you need to grow
The sword was always mightier, don’t you know?
What are you, just a loser poet, a pathetic peacenik?”
It was as though someone had given him a kick.
These jibes ricocheted in his head, ah the pain was extreme.
But still, he bent down to pick up the shards of his dream.
And despite the barbs started weaving a word tapestry
Embellishing it with the chirps of every free bird in the tree
The fragrance of myriad hued bouquets
The hues of peace, the scintillating brightness of sunrays.
But alas, so overwhelmed with emotion, his heart failed.
Nature mourned his death but his effort was hailed.
Every leaf, every flower, every snowflake
Every colourful butterfly, every ripple of every lake
Picked up the notes of his swansong
Building a crescendo of hope which hit at every wrong.
From up above the loser poet pumped a fist in the air.
Strutting on amongst the clouds with a self-congratulatory air.
An engrossing and entertaining work delivered with undeniable wit and panache.
thanks so much much for the edifying comment, Louis Kasatkin. I am honoured.
Rhyme, rhythm and wit to top it all
This poet is no loser
and the poem never a swan song
but splash of poetic red upon our town wall!
*but a splash.. My bad 🙂
Thanks a ton for your poetic comment…..relieved to know that this will not remain a swan song, Reena Prasad- and let me cash on your poetic splash..thanks.
Mesmerizing write..love it
thanks a lot sarada.
Great write – 😀 Love it.
thanks a lot Koshy A.V
The deep burried anguish of all that happens around..The struggle of the humans to cease the sufferings..Portrayed beautifully when the Divine speaks to the poet ..And the poets never die attitude till last breath..HisSoul blessing and still longing for transformation is beautifully woven into a string of pearl..which none cannot dare to adore !
Thanks a lot for your gracious comment, Divyakala.
As usual, divine and sublime! I had read this earlier and it touched me profoundly. You are too good to be true, Santosh jee 🙂
Love,
Lopa.
thanks a lot Lopa. Honoured.
Nature rejoices when truth is told and good enacted, that’s the explicit message here and it’s also the theme of all of Santosh’s work, though much/some is of parables.
thanks a lot Pete.
Really good. Very touching too.
thanks a lot Lalit .