Poems And Festival Of Colours By Kunal Roy

No body cried when I had died

I had a vision yesternight,
I was lying on the bed,
All alone!
The creepy solitude infested the soul,
Thousands more were like me,
Waited for the final turn!
The journey stopped,
Hauled off to my destination!
I died,
Unsung,
Unwept,
Unhonoured!
A free from the bondage,
Thought over those-
Who would shed tears on my death!
But an incisive reality,
Wrapped me up!
No tears in the eyes,
No wrinkle on the face,
The sobs were stifled,
An unseen comfort,
An unpredictable disturbance,
In vogue!

A bevy of ladies,
Called in,
Congregated-
Covered their visage,
howls tore apart the sky!
Rudalis.
Tears dropped,
Not from the heart-
Unnatural darkness descended!
Two hours-
Before I left for the crematorium!
Lifted on the four shoulders,
The corn scattered,
The hymns were chanted,
The holy water was sprinkled,
I was placed on the pyre,
The fire was lit up,
The logs burnt,
The darted tongue of the flames,
Gobbled me up!
The ashes remained!
Stuffed in a cauldron,
Threw in the Ganges!

I jerked back to reality,
The drops of sweat-
appeared on the forehead,
The heart pounded fast,
The fingers trembled,
The limbs shook-
Lips refused to utter Amen!
I discovered-
Alone I was anew!
The light was dim,
The pillow budged-
The blanket was irregular,
The owls hooted-
The doors were shut ,
The casements were bolted,
I was confined-
The four walls haunted,
Death whispered in my ears-
Chuckled: “I have come. Your acolyte”
Embraced me,
Hugged me tight,
Felt the cold breathe,
Snuffed out the life,
Took out the soul,
Held my arms,
For the garden of Paradise,
Sufferings disappeared,
Pains abated,
Tranquility persisted,
Forever!!