AT  BIRAJA KHETRA

Bow to you,  Goddess of energy,

and to your Bakul with boughs

bound  to our bangles

and folded cloths with wishes in them;

of our orange desires simmering 

under a hot Sun  now and then

as the vast arena  lolls out

its hungry tongue

with love for midday  Prasad;

and beggars, as usual  yell out

for offer of  more coins at the lion gate

where your  tired  Chariot looks on

at the strange drama of life enacted

on the plains of your courtyard

where poverty is speechless

like the thirsty crow roosting

and devotees on the corridors

of  desires, endlessly crawling !

comp. n copy right : saroj k. padhi

08/10/14