Poetry: Seema Jain

Seema Jain

The Mahatma

I wander through those busy streets

familiar once, now so alien;

those same alleys traversed together,

by me and my fellow countrymen,

where we sat in dharnas,

were pushed and jostled,

beaten with lathis, batons and rifle butts

by the brute force of a mighty empire.

An empire we eventually shook

though countless of our fellowmen

were slain or jailed or tormented.

We lived to see the radiant rays

of a promised dawn

a dawn, sullied by rivulets of blood 

by haunting screams

of millions displaced,

a dawn eclipsed

by dark ominous clouds.

In these same alleys, we rose

to rebuild broken bridges

to build new nests

to build a new future

you named me Mahatma,

but you gunned me down.

Today, I revisit these same alleys

hoping to see happiness and cheer

Alas!  they look alien and far

I feel lost, bewildered

as my soul writhes to witness

innocent blood still being spilled,

this time by our brethren

the hands on the guns are our own now.

And my heart is pierced by bullets once again.

***

A Bride's Journey

She feels lured and lost

dreaming of worlds new

of a cozy nest built with straws

of love and hope

while the paradox of pain

of displacement

from one's childhood home

from the hearts full of love

throbs in the veins side by side.

The bride nestles in her heart's crevices

reminiscences of Ma"s recipes

of halwa puri and rice-curry

with eternal ingredients of motherly care

the caressing fingers

on a burning forehead

the furrows of anxiety

on her getting late

and numerous other things;

The bride nestles in her heart's crevices

Fun rides with Baba

or his feet on tiptoe

softly entering her room

to cover her with a warm sheet

on wintry chilly nights.

With mixed emotions

of trepidation and zest

she awaits the promised spring

beckoning her with all its radiant hues,

assuring her of a new beginning

far more joyous and fulfilling

and wrapped in its amorous fold

holding out a magical balm

to lessen the pain of

an impending displacement.

---

Setu, July 2024