By Sukrit Khanna
The Clouds were dense
The Light was dim
And as I gazed through my window – still
Unstirred by the hoary hill,
Jumped up when I saw that shine
Awoken by the shimmering light.
A golden raindrop falling from the sky
It never seemed to reach the ground,
Beside it was the Sparrow there
Which seemed to control the drop’s descent.
He promised it to the withered Plants,
But drank it up instead.
I was too far to notice it all
And so did the innocent Plants,
They just thought it took time to reach
And was just within their reach.
The Drink was overshadowed by the Service he did,
The ‘God Of The Hill’- so it’s said.
Made the Hill happy and strong,
Built many paths for the cats and dogs.
The Sparrow forgot the plants were still
And so the paths were useless to them,
Who needed the shining drop on them
Which would bring Heaven to them.
Yet they believed in their ‘God’-
The one who knew it all.
But some were shaken and disturbed
Swayed by the winds of the Eagles flying,
That wind had something special with it
And moved by the sound of it,
Some plants changed their God to the Crow.
The Crow was mocked by all,
‘A Juvenile’- said some; ‘Incapable’- said others,
However, by garnering support of the plants
It proved to the Sparrow how capable it was.
And promised the plants not one,
But many raindrops would reach the ground.
Perplexed I was, I asked my God
What was happening in this mayhem,
‘The Dance will Go On’ – He said
‘And Trouble their Brains out of Their Heads’
‘A Capable Leader rules in the Summer
Detested by all- as he caused,
No golden raindrop to reach the ground.
And so in the Monsoon, replaced by another
Loved by all – as he caused,
Two more raindrops to reach the ground.
And no one even asked
What happened to the rest.’
The Eagles migrated elsewhere
Swaying their wings got them their share
Carnivorous, by nature they are,
Would never hurt a single plant.
But exposed to them the Lion’s Lair
About which they would otherwise not care.
‘The Dance Continues like this’ – He said,
‘But don’t get yourself into this mess
Seek and catch your raindrop yourself
Share it with your family and friends,
And never expect a sponge-like-bird
To ever give it to you.’
(Inspired by the Indian General Elections 2024)
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