This poem was published in the anthology “FloatPoetry ” on the theme
Re-verse the Rivers
The mountain tried to reach the cloud
Stop her and ask something with a quiver in voice
The cloud fled as the rocks below began to crumble.
“Water started her turbulent journey here, from up here
From my head, with mist gliding in breeze, is my hair
Dying now I am, where are you my child? Cloud do you see her?
Tell me great valley, was she down there with you
Watering the fields that fill the plates as would Ganga do.
Over the murky waves the dolphins leap, gasping.
Unaffected by elements the sages keep chanting.
The Ganga washes their feet, then bids good bye to souls.
Are you there my child, to be in the journey eternal?”
A flute churns curd into love as the mother regrets
Restraining her soul’s cream as he sets out as life’s stream
And there he plunges into the beautiful Yamuna.
Cows tinkling their bells, birds singing sweet
Girls dancing, boys laughing loud with joy.
“Dear I know this is a festival which you do not want to return from”
“Right in front of the Taj do not thin down
Can a river keep everything else and let love drown?
Water why do you take things dirty, to clean the heartless?
Look how ugly a fine silver stuff has become!
Gone are the days when a beauty like you
The Indus, defined civilization and gave birth to a culture great.
Favourite to you dear , were the dancing dolls which you had hidden.
Many boats sailed with you with men of emperors great.
Bound by many dams she is helpless
She chokes as villages vanish for towns.
Did you remember Narmada as calmness blankets mountains
Mutely watching flood and famines.
Meeting with Sabarmathi you should dear believe
Such a human lived as much with flesh and blood.
Have you wound down south ,trailing the scent of jasmine?
Kaveri is a mother whose tears flow into fields of feud.
On the spread of sere sand art dances in stunning colors
Poetry thrives and merits still sprout along Nila.
Men across the land listened
Sankara teaching Advaitha.
Like the uncanny alligator that held him back
Waters of Periyar is a captive by the thirsty city.
River so strong so beautiful ,singing with the oars that splash
Retarded she flows amidst water front high rises.
Deluge was as never before as Pamba rushed
From the Sahya to the sea, she was roaring.
Man was seeking worldly gains grinding rivers under his feet.
Come back oh dear, my river ,where are you?
Have you gone deep into the earth to be with Saraswathi?”
