I see her with each rising sun,
The same face, the same smile et all,
And the same eyes speak through ether-
A whisper distinct I hear, a voice sweet.
And it melts into my heart, and then melts it.
No words need intrude, no touch, no caress,
For a bliss more encompassing I possess.
Dare I break the spell? The spell
Which sustains, which gives meaning
To the entering breath, gives the glitter of their eye.
Oh! What’s more sensual than remain far and sigh?
She’s mine I hear, she’s mine so she tells,
I see her in laced gowns, I hear the church bells.
Then she speaks, her head like a lily at noon,
Then she is held, embraced and kissed soon-
But why do I feel that the man is unknown?
Ah! She smiles- see, now she smiles-
But why do I feel she’s away- miles and miles?
-22/7/2000,Calcutta-63

COMMENTS :

Men are in a dilemma. One teacher asked the student- what is the thinnest book? The student didn’t need to think twice; he replied- What Men Know About Women. The female species is one of the least understood specimens of nature. Man has been trying to understand women a little after he himself was born- the Bible tells us that woman came a little later, since God had forgotten to make the fair sex. It seems that little delay is the cause of incomprehensibility. When Milton wrote his epic he tried to fool men into believing that he was justifying the ways of God to men- he actually was trying to understand women and her hero who was courting her with a lovely red apple even before Adam knew that one needs to court her. Men have been making calculations about the cranial capacity of women (the Internet is filled with such investigations) but he forgot that charity begins at home. Thus when she brought the apple to Adam he thought it was a gift from her- he was a fool, is a fool and shall remain so. The sage advice goes that don’t run after the missed bus and the girl- if you fall you will get injured. Who pays heed? The pretty classmate looks your way and smiles once- and you are ready to bet that she has fallen in love with you. The only thing that can be said about this foolishness is that men enjoy it- it is a sort of masochism.

Among these masochists is one particular group which, for laziness, lack of courage or whatever foolish reason, likes to have fun from far. They take the advice given in Hyderabad Blues very sincerely (dil pe kya leta hai, haat pe le), and like the mariners of Ulysses marooned in the Lotos Land, say ‘Oh! What’s more sensual than remain far and sigh?’ Man is by nature a voyeur- he gives in to his nature, and at home writes this foolish poem (‘Writing poetry is the silliest business in the world. All do it because they have nothing better to do’).

Note: This product of foolishness has been inspired by a voyeuristic engagement with a classmate, and hence, is dedicated to her. (Teacher: What is a classmate? Student: One with whom you mate in the class)