My Erratic Clock

The clock in me is erratic

often the alarm goes

at ungodly hours

shaking me to find

the moonless night

whispering horror horror

It stalks my moods

but I am helpless.

 

My schedules go awry

when I sit determined

to read the new book

whistle comes from the street

to hand over the garbage bin.

When I sing in joy

how tuneless it may be

my foot dashes against

my study table and

I shout for  volini gel.

 

At times telephonic command comes

asks me to attend the meeting

I say yes and smile within

I am tilling the wasteland

of my life watering with tears

which defy self control.

 

How to set my clock

it ticks, stops goes tik - tik

I can't throw it away

nor can  I thank it

for making my dull routine

clamorous, vociferous

with uninvited logos.

 

 Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XV

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XV

Thank you Draupadi said Vasudev

while guards and others led by Alpana

receded beyond sight leaving Draupadi

and Krishna for a divine moment

of eye contact in uncoded silence

only the elements knew

what they breathed into each other.

 

O Fair Fireborn  I felt your fiery

message in your gift,

I hope your heart was in its own place

when you thought of the gift.

The lotus blooming petal feathers

to couch a lifetime of love!

 

Krishna looked deep in the eyes of Draupadi,

what role do you propose to play in history?

A bland onlooker of my play

or a  protagonist of your own world

firewalking to ambrosiac essence

leading and being led to grasp

may be time's sprouts of fresh

challenges to show you are one

in body mind and soul?

My dear Draupadi, you are on this earth

far from your lost memories of Fire and Ice,

what do you think of our men and soil

O daughter of fire, speak up, your smile

intrigues me and rolls me beyond the elements!

Draupadi ventured,   do I  have  any role or

do I float in the current in helpless rage?

 

Yes, you have a role, you child of destiny

you will cause a river of blood and swim

to rediscover Dharma

on the shore of a new Aryabarta,

I have settled the issue of your marriage

with your father king Drupad, he wants

a true revenge hero as your life mate

and the best archer of the world shall be

your father's son-in-law through  a test

in a grand Swayanbar!

              If a fool wins the test

what lifemate will he make, smirked Draupadi.

 

Wait and see dear hold your horses

your life will be stormy yet fulfilling

you are here on earth to change humanity.

I shall be your Sakha

and you my Sakhi till the ice

burns in fury to conceive

new seeds of creation.

Rain - Eyes

 

 

When I watch the rain

standing on the balcony

I feel a feast for the parched  earth

slushing and churning the feelings

of soil and turn into pulp.

 

Rain comes with bands

its fireworks strike terror,

But when my tears roll down

no  thunder strikes

and none matches my tears

my silence hides the sobs

my sorrow is not for display.

 

I don't know why I cry

when the clouds seize the sky

and rain falls with trumpets in fury

I now realize that the sky is weeping

to let me wash my face and feel fresh

to show my lightning face  and

the spark of my eyes to the world

and put a full stop to the source of tears.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI XIV

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XIV

Draupadi waited for Vasudev

her choice of the mango grove

a surprise to the security guards

but the clearing in the grove

the afternoon sun, the breeze

the raw fragrance of the saplings

the strange coos of homing birds

all excited the radiant Draupadi

dressed tastefully in bosom thrusting

Choli and flowing Ghagra in scarlet:

She couldn't control her animation

could not gauge her restive obsession.

 

Is she in love with the great cowboy?

She paused to wonder all abashed

Draupadi admitted to herself, Yes

perhaps it is love, when the mind

forsakes the known searching for

the unknown contours of life beyond

formal relations and normal emotions

since I heard about his visit

a few chords in my heart strummed

an exotic note of tenderness -

then Alpana excitedly reminisced.

 

The exploits of his early childhood

his non- mortal valour and the wondrous flute

charming men women and animals

for his love the Gopikas defied all rules,

ignored all norms

and surrendered their assets

in orgies  of unearthly passions.

on  the Yamuna banks and Tamal forest

the super maiden Radha made him

play the lover, hero and mighty saviour

of Mathura and the cherished cultural values.

My defiant amour aroused

a passion to call him mine

 

But what will I tell him and

how to begin and how to confess -

Draupadi's mind and heart lost the sound

of footsteps of guards and guides

that fell on the nervous inwardness of Draupadi

she stood with throbbing reverence with

Alapna behind holding the gifs for Krishna.

 

The smile of Krishna greened the grove

 the air came closer to fan his firm body

Draupadi greeted the Man of Men, bowing

rising, smiling, beaming all at once and

presented a Peacock Plume on Lotus,

all the gems of the world composed its splendour

a work of undying Art in fiery lustre:

 Krishna smiled his pleasure and said, Wah!

Such a beautiful gift, a curious treasure

I never saw nor will  I see hereafter.

 

DRAUPADI -XIII

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XIII

The ceremonial welcome lingered

till late night, the drums, clarinets, conches

played to dance rhythms while Vasudev

won one and all in Drupad's palace.

His winsome smiles and witty interventions

to Drupad's political queries and  his proud

assertions of certainty, military powers

Vasudev punctured with sharp wisdom,

making Drupad cover his shame

with courteous silence.

 

 

At the Royal Banquet Draupadi personally

served Krishna charmed by his radiance

of eyes, mind and his all knowing smile;

how can a human be so angelic in smile

so penetrative in political perceptions and

so jocular at the dining place, asking for

more of everything making Draupadi run.

"Have your own food Draupadi, don't sweat

for me, come sit by my side and eat".

 

Draupadi enjoyed serving him and  wished

she had the chance to serve him more and more

till mortality enveloped her consciousness

in perennial bliss of a life fulfilled:

like a  mind reader krishna had quipped

'Pass  me the kheer Draupadi , give me more!'

 

Draupadi returned to her chamber happy

for Krishna had promised to speak to her

in the garden escortless and free,

how will she prepare herself in body and mind

what  will he say , what will she speak.

She rolled on the bed caught between

uncontrolled anticipation and awe,

sleep evaded her eyes till the stars

were down the sunwashed hills afar.

 

Life's This - That

 

I have often heard

tea vendors shouting

come and drink my tea

he who drinks my adrak tea

finds heaven reachable.

 

I have also heard

skin bone children

howling for bread

while politicians like

suave actors beg for votes.

 

When the power line is cut off

while watching soft porn

on the mobile lonely men

rise up in revolt-

what's this-

they take the tariff

but give us grief

to roast us in our loneliness.

I have felt life tearing away

far from the world of my home

when words of horror and death

rogue dogs barking biting

each other over-

God knows what,

are thrown at me from all sides

killing my concentration

when I try to find out a

substitute for L O V E

a synonym if you prefer.

Sabita Sahu

 

 

 

 

DRAUPADI -XII

 

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XII 

Triumphal arches were the gates

three tiered floral tapestry

gave them the look of exotic rainbow

which made heaven look pale with envy

Draupadi with a thousand virgins

imaginatively decked up like fairies

stood with the arati plate in excitement,

while Dhristadyumna supervised the defence,

ten thousand cavalry behind the array

of soldiers standing in O formation,

seven layers thick miles ahead.

 

King Drupad calm and happy stood

near the palace entrance with guards.

The bands played welcome Vasudev

the conch shells blew in unison

when the rising dust of Krishna's charriot

were sighted, the rhythm of horse hooves

evoked pride and fear, Draupadi looked

at her preparations with a nervous smile.