DRAUPADI -XVIII

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XVIII

Father! don't be impatient

listen to me, I beseech you,

why do you want to throw me out,

Yes, throw me out of your heart,

Am I such a burden, such a load

unbearable, cumbersome and vile?

 

No my child, never speak that language

you are the fire of my old bones,

I want your bright future, wish

a dream life, for you and yours,

I want the best hero, the best archer

who can protect you and also my pride -

 

What pride Father? You have - only

one resolve, one- ambition, one mission

to see Drona at your feet, living or dead,

Am I your bait for your Revenge

to catch the greatest archer of Aryabarta,

a normal father wouldn't like to part

with his daughter- no daughter am I

a gift of the -gods from the cauldron:

 

O' stop my child don't stab me like this,

Yes I want my vengeance, Drona

has bled my feelings, my Royal pride,

I must avenge and what's wrong

If I want the best in this Swayambara

to win my daughter and my heart?

 

Father, I respect your feelings but

how long have I come to this world

I never ran in this palace falling

and rising, never sat in your lap

never knew who was what, even now 

I haven't breathed the air of love

of you or mother's, I haven't seen

the extent of your kingdom, haven't met -

 

My Draupadi, dear Draupadi go around

my kingdom, move without fear, enjoy

my name and plenitude - but you know

You are a Princess, Drupad's daughter

Royalty often is its own enemy

move with care -  I'll give you my guards.

 

I'll do that  Father but on one condition:

Postpone my marriage, let me grow in

worldly  ways - No now it's too late.

Invitations have been sent, messengers

are in every kingdom, now - no my child:

Drupad walked away in a huff.

 

Stop This Deluge

The bell has stopped ringing

the cash register has stopped tinkling

the smell of cooking has stopped tingling

but the bell continues tolling

for the corona escapees in mourning

 

I cannot raise my hands in despair

for the lined up beds in corridors

in million hospitals everywhere

I can close my eyes in prayer.

 

Who has sent this hydra headed monster

God or the Devil to wipe off life here

these unseen vipers change shape

to enter all shapely bodies in vile

vengefulness for what I do not know.

 

But let me stand opening all pores

to invite all viruses to enter me

and save mankind this deluge

to rise again in divine form

 

If my prayer is ugly is ultra vires

show your contempt god to hack

my body into trillion pieces but

save  the best of your creation

to keep the flames of life aloft

to light up Love and Virtue.

Sabita Sahu

 

 

DRAUPADI XVII

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XVII

Why am I so lonely,

the crescent moon outside

a snowy carpet on fields, trees

the breeze caresses wooingly

everyone in the palace is happy

Krishna  Vasudev has filled all spaces

with golden promises

which have fruitioned  delighting all hearts.

Brother Dristhadyumna is preparing

invitation scrolls to all Princes and Kings

Father regrets the Pandav death

in  Varunabarta, wishes it were untrue

what Swayambara it will be without Arjun!

He remembers how Arjun tied him in rope

for  Drona's Gurudakshina - the king moans

remembering his humiliation, groans

roars for revenge, "My child Draupadi

for you I must have a hero, an Arjun

who shall throw at my feet a tied Drona".

He has several times narrated

in half choked voice to Draupadi and others

his friendship, betrayal and humiliation

 Draupadi almost visualizes the scenes,

but today Drupad is happy after

Krishna's assurance of all help,

The prayer bells are  ringing in his

personal Shiva temple where he alone

has entry at any hour of the day or night,

he smiles and shouts, discusses

preparations albeit the Swayambar

is months away, the plans are not afoot

nor ready, none have moved

yet everyone behaves as though

the Swaymbara is tomorrow.

 

Draupadi sighed looked out for air

the lamps are all lighted, incense

rises up in the air, her large rooms

resonate the sweet joy of the palace.

But she is somewhere else, not on earth

not anywhere in the stratosphere

she was wandering without her knowledge

in the affective area of Vasudev.

 

Draupadi couldn't know why her agitation

in wordless conflict writhes her heart.

Is  she in love Draupadi shuddered- no no,

It's a sin to think of it when Krishna already

has elevated me to be his Sakhi, close and dear

Let me be his Sakhi in my silent prayers,

my love my respect for him has been rewarded

I'm his Sakhi, His Alter ego, yes his very own.

 

Draupadi did not wait for Alpana

washed the vision of peacock plumes

with lines of kajal thick and shiney

she closed her ears to the rising dust

of the receding chariot

she bit her lips to bite

the mesmerizing smiles

she sealed her feelings to oblivion

she went out to speak to the king

her womanly heart in blushfull honesty.

But You Never Ask Me

If you ask me to sing

I'll pour out my heart

a sea full of melodies

will wash your feet in wavy art!

               But you never ask me.

 

If you ask me to pray

bells of all temples would

chime to lull god's sleep

in Swings Way

silence will reign deep.

               But you never ask me.

 

If you ask me to cry

I'll raise tempests wild

recreate deluge where

Noha's arc will forever lie.

               But you never ask me.

 

And if you ask me to die

I'll make all births rot

in the chambers of womb

for their living tomb

to save the birth of my love.

              But you never ask me.

Sabita Sahu

UNDOING

How can life be shared!

If one is full in mind and body

the unseen soul too covers the fullness

man is a whole with many dimensions

but the many are one, the one whole.

The shadow is never divided

nor does it merge in another

the digital shades never converge 

distant words never make melody.

I never wish to claim any share

for, the share I need a whole.

.

The heart that is empty stays empty

another fullness cannot fill it up 

unless the other heart desires for it.

Can I undo, unwrite, unwipe

the written letters of my soul!

No, that's anti-nature, unwholesome

the best is to stay empty

and wither away before the winter 

buries it under the snow

of unrequited memory.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI--XVI

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XVI

Krishna returned the next morning

to a grand send off with gifts galore

swallowing her half formed words in silence,

Krishna the all knowing placed his hands

on Draupadi's shoulder seriously smiling

Hey Sakhi, don't make my parting grim

smile your farewell and wish me success

my mission ahead is a tight rope walk

I need my Sakhi's love to wade through

the fateful slushy territory with valour:

Draupadi relaxed a smile and whispered

no thorn will sear your skin nor failure

will deter you from your destined vision

Dear Sakha just remember, there is your

alluring Sakhi strewing jasmine buds all the way

and worshipping your name in all her orisons.

 

The parting was joyous and clamorous

Krishna's entourage left pleased and happy

she stood at her gates till the distant dust

settled in her heart to a blank silence.

 

Back in her lonely chamber she brooded,

Swayambara! Why and what for? Is marriage

such an urgent need?   For whom the ceremony,

If Swayambara is for me, I must choose

my life's co-journeyer, a man of honour,

valour, witty decoder of life's puzzles,

not simply a heroic archer, not a revenger

to satisfy my father's obsessive pride!

If I am to choose why should there be a test?

That too an Archery test of military skill,

Why not I test the Princes and assess

their nobility, grace, honour and love,

It's Love I need in life to overcome.

All worldly vicissitudes and complexities:

Am I not helpless being the king's daughter,

I am Princess for all, beautiful and wise

but am I a woman to chose my life

to live displaying my dream vision?

Her undulating heart chocked in uncertainty

she closed her eyes and moved inwards.

 

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