Are You In your Sense, God!

 

When I bow down you don't see

when I shout the mantras you go deaf

I don't know your cell number

It must be zero but I have never tried.

 

How can I tell my woes

my body aches, my son's insolence

my husband's night shocks and my

neighbour's dog waking me all night?

 

All your temples are shut

the masked priests don't chant

the real mantras, they mutter and turn

in fear of everything you have released

on man and his small world.

 

If you are not deaf and blind

see me, listen to me and come down

my world is off the track, my mind

moves like your chakra bleeding

my innards and never stops.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XX

 

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XX

The buzz around was riotous

everyone was on his toes, running

laughing, and joking in free elation,

King Drupad was issuing orders

tents were  being raised in the city

domes, cones, big, bigger, larger

gold, purple, scarlet shades arose

rainbows  descended with spectral magic.

Brother was instructing artisans

shelters, stables, sheds for horses and soldiers

must be completed within seven days,

Thousands worked day and night

thousands carried store provisions,

the sight filled the eyes and ears

the guests would arrive, Princes,

Kings, Courtiers, soldiers, guards

chariots innumerable will raise dust

in the streets of Kampilya: the Palace

with a fresh paint and fortifications

must look like heaven's joy

spread over Drupad's mighty kingdom.

 

Draupadi saw and heard,

anticipation in the air is now

a happening reality in the making,

while returning from the library

after reading on archery and strategy

she accosted her brother Dhristadyumna

who taunted her: See sister

for your grand send off how I sweat

Draupadi smiled:  Good for your fat

you will look streamlined and

Princesses will fawn on you:

Am I not handsome and fit?

O' You are, you will be a killer.

A roll of laughter arose

in the ladies camp, she couldn't

guess what it was, she paused

and stepped up towards it.

 

DRAUPADI - XIX

 

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XIX

I am watched in sleep

guards follow me to the garden

I can't speak my mind, I am a doll

an exhibit on the royal shelf :

 See Draupadi! Our gift of fire

she came a full formed beautiful

package of divine elegance,

a Princess to brighten our Kingdom's future.

 

My brother too is fire born yet

none speaks of him as some exotic

A spirit in human form or gift of fire.

The brother too exercises his authority

for he is male, he is the Future.

Drupad's memory perpetuator

Inheritor of the King's name and Pride

Draupadi felt dizzy and sank into a chair.

 

A woman I am hence no freedom

A woman I am hence mindless

A woman I am to follow commands

why don't they acknowledge my being?

My separateness, my free spirit?

I have my own mind and I think but fail,

how can I chose my life mate

from among the Princes or the Prince

who pierces the eye of the fish

tied to a moving wheel

in Sandipani's Radhachakra?

When my choice does not matter

my misgivings should be lost in my smile

  I must garland him who wins the test

even if he is cruel, ugly and vain

a man of many women and lustful!

Is marriage a joke for Father

he mirthfully sets the trap to catch

his avenger with me as the bait?

Draupadi stood up in helpless rage

I have no voice, no freedom, no legs,

I have to scale my Reason and blink

at all the glitter of make belief!

 

Dream Open Eyed

 

Dreams are horrible

they disturb your sleep,

lift you to layers of unreality

enchanting till the eyes open

to the new sun for a new

lotus to a fresh bloom.

 

Is this what we call dream

to be in a dream heaven

drinking the elixir of immortality?

But when the eyes open to your

naked palace your children start

nagging -No - MoM not this

No Maggie -today,

you laugh at your cracked dreams.

 

Dreams are imagination electrified

by your ambition and trust

in your abilities, talents

in your creativity and the desire

to leave something

for posterity to dream on.

 

A Dreamer is one

whose eyes are always open

he dreams big with open eyes

form and substance

beauty and essence

and all with a tinge of reality.

 

O dreamers don't idle away

in fancy what your

imagination gives you as vision:

build your dreams into

fancies of life.

Sabita Sahu

 

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.