Poetry: Syed Ali Hamid

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The grip of the snake loosens

The ghost recedes

after a painful exorcism

A turbulence,

unease

is laid to rest.

The breeze from the distant mountains

fans the face

An expectation of peace

denied all along

resurfaces

with a faint hope.

But suffering remains

knocking at the door

of loneliness

Dried tears

battered heart

regrets, repentance

hurt, pain.

Nothing changes.

Yet I smile

laugh

entertain with my wit,

a charm inherited

from my father

silent suffering

from my mother,

a combination for survival

a struggle that still remains

as I approach sixty-six

exhausted, drained,

but still alive.

 JUSTICE AT CHITAI, 5 KM FROM ALMORA

                                                                                                      --Syed Ali Hamid

From a Temple near Almora

where physical beauty of nature blends

with silent spirituality,

quiet meditation

with the sound of bells and conch shells,

Golu Devta

the revered deity of Kumaun

dispenses justice.

Devotees with written petitions

sometimes on stamp paper

offer prasad,

and with hands folded,

eyes closed

pray for justice

before tying the petition

on the row of bells,

evidence of justice

delivered to many.

Years back,

victims of a sadist vice chancellor

we too tied our petition

when nothing seemed to work,

and soon enough a bell

was added to the Temple

testimony of  malignancy defeated

by the quiet power

of Goljyu.

Syed Ali Hamid, poet, translator, Professor of English (now retired) has four books of poems to his credit. He lives in Almora and can be reached at syedali.hamid2@gmail.com

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Local 2020 :: Setu, June 2020