Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's
DRAUPADI - VI
DRAUPADI IN THE GARDEN
The fragrant twilight
with inviting reverence
greeted the Princess caressingly
Draupadi sauntered in her majesty
exuding a fresh flush on her cheeks
she widened her arms jestfully
to embrace all flowers earthly, eerie
in the dumb light of sunset.
A group of shouting urchins
half naked, emaciated boys - girls
distracted her, she looked beyond
the gates of the garden in shock
are these children real, are they human
where have they gone
where do they go!
She called the gardener and asked
who are these children
where do they live,
Do they live in such misery?
The gardener meekly answered
Princess these kids live in the
nearby village, return home
after the day's toil.
These kids toil!
What do they do?
They work in the fields
to bring home some money
The gardener said hesitatingly
to keep the fire burning
in their humble hearths.
Draupadi lost interest in the flowers
The cool breeze and the flowing scent
smarted her like poisoned darts
she asked, how far is the village?
Anuradhapura is two kos from here:
Tomorrow I'll go there at dawn
I'll walk - no chariot, no horse
just ask someone to show me the way
I'll go alone.
A heavy head bowed her down
the pathway to her chamber
coiled serpent like slowed her steps:
I have no childhood, I never
sucked my mother's breast
I do not know what it means
to grow in poverty - yet these
urchins had energy to shout
at day's end no hunger stemmed
their passion to return home!
What home, what life, what?
I must see it myself.
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