Two Poems
Poets & the Emperor
Renowned poets from all over the country
Came forward to read inspirational verses
To the demoralized emperor
A poet wearing gold embroidered attire
Having deep voice of wisdom, said
Your Excellency, I have written a verse
Reminiscing the glorifying dynasty of your predecessors
So that you can regain your confidence
And rule India with unrelenting determination
King's court reverberated with loud applause &uproar
And the poet was awarded one thousand gold coins
Then came a poet having curly hair
Wearing silver embroidered attire and velvet turban
Said O, the supreme one, the emperor of India
I created the most amazing verses
You will feel anger in each verse
Forgo your sense of despair, and become vengeful
Loud applause shook up king's court
Two thousand gold coins were showered as reward
Then came a poet treading, wearing long silk attire
Precious stone embroidered hat
Deer skin slipper, wearing black eye color, carrying a chime
Said, O the emperor of the universe
I have composed such powerful verses for you
That they will make your war drums reverberate non-stop
And you will reign forever
Again, loud applause & uproar kept on resonating
Three thousand gold coins were showered at his feet
At last came a soft spoken
Saintly looking bearded man wearing white turban
Said, O the most honorable emperor
I spent many sleepless nights
But failed to compose any verse which might please you
O the great king, please forgive me
Dreadful silence filled up the Court room
The emperor was speechless, baffled
Later, it was known that the poet was Mirza Ghalib.
This Autumn
Autumn is here
But "Durga" is nowhere to be found
Where is the goddess having ten arms, the saver of the world?
Where are her chariot of lions?
They are imprisoned in a zoo
Her spears are exhibited in a museum
Laxmi is running around frantically
Searching for her owl
But there are no bamboo bushes for owls to live!
How would Sharashwati arrive?
There are no waterways for swan boat to anchor
There are no singing peacocks
Forests are barren
Kartik croaks out in deep despair
Meadows are barren
Gonesh's rat fled due to sharp stink of insecticide
In the battle field the monster is all by himself
Ecstatic in his killing spree
Who will stop him, stick a sword in his chest?
Let the invincible warrior Durga come this autumn, walking
Carrying her war spears.