Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Draupadi

I stare down from the stars
Wonder where the story changed course
Being portrayed as cause of the wars
When I was jeered at and humiliated by force?


Being shared by five men was written in my fate
I was not loved and wed, but a prize for their skill
I never felt belonged was just served on a plate
A plate you could pass on when you had your fill


I still wonder the way they staked me for dice
Was I a partner for life, prize or property?
Palace stood helpless, witness of the vice
Now they raise a brow; put a mark on my chastity?


Yet I hear the stories being told below
Kurukshetra was a great war, Draupadi sowed the seed
A woman caused the war, meaning the men were mellow?
I had only lived my life serving their need and feed


No, the war was not due to need of power and greed of land
No, the war was not due to injustice served and ego of the clans
No, the war was not due to wronged men and righteous stand
No, the war was not due to game of dice and scheming plans


The war was due to a woman and her coveted beauty
The war was due to her revenge, which they felt was their duty
Strange are the reasons, stranger are the prejudices
The blame lies with me, while they are remembered for their virtues!!


 
Pic courtesy:www.hinduyuva.org
 
This poem is meant to put forward a possible angle of Draupadi's feelings.
It's purpouse is not to question/demean any of our great epic characters.
 
Share it if you like it!!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Yet Again

An attempt to write few lines, from a prostitute’s take on life.

I always had a dream, a dream of love

For a man in my life, for a caring soul

Destiny had its laugh, played its game from above

It gave me a line of men, didn’t hear my cries of foul



I always sigh, if I could love and wed

Yet again I stare, at the unmade bed



No I won’t, I won’t tell you why I do this

You always see the sun, not the shadow it causes

Your eyes see only flesh, not the life it misses

Oh, if you could only see my heart, its wounds and gashes



I wail and cry until I am all sore

Yet again I wait, for a knock on my door



Yes I do, I do grieve for myself

I grieve for my dreams but I don’t regret

I did what I had to; in times of need

At least I don’t hide behind a pretext



I wake up at twilight, willing it to be surreal

Yet again I gear, for another night’s ordeal





I still have my head held high; I have my heart pristine

I still have dreams in my eyes; I have a smile on my lips

I still care in my heart; I have compassion for thy

Yet again I sleep; this is my life’s eclipse.



Yet again I stare, at the unmade bed

Yet again I wait, for a knock on my door

Yet again I gear, for another ordeal

Yet again I sleep, if you call that so



Choices






Fed up of troubles and fed up of pains

I appealed to The Lord, human life is so lame

I want to be reborn and have a pretty life

Make me something where I don’t have strife



A smile played on his lips, you could call it mischievous

Of course dear, choice is yours, just be cautious

I was delirious, facing so many options

Oh, how to choose, how to avoid the wantons



I wanted to be beautiful, to be colorful and soft

Make me a flower; nothing can go wrong I scoffed

Very well he said, you shall be a flower

But your figure and color is not in my power



You could be the red rose in a lover’s hand

Or a carnivorous one in a forbidden land



Stumped by reality, I rechecked my choices

Make me a tree, strong and harmless

Very well he said, you shall be a tree

But your type and trunk, I cannot guarantee



You could be a tree laden with fruits and climbers

Or a dry one, your trunk used only for death pyres



I thought and thought, silly ideas away I cast

Make me a water body, flowing and vast

Very well he said, you shall be water

But your place and taste, I cannot alter



You could be a river quenching everyone’s thirst

Or could be a part of quick sand, none would trust



I understood then, the meaning of his words

Humbled I was, before the all-knowing Lord

I know what I want to be, let me be human

This time I will try to be more humane



I don’t care about the color, type or place

At least I can mould my future at my own pace