Patthalgarhi

Despite everything we rise

Despite everything, the stones remember,

the pictures record.

From deep Africa through grey Babylon

and beyond

From when we were all friends

to now, and beyond; Despite everything,

all has not been forgotten

all has not been lost

For when, you, traveler

of thirsty climes & dreams – ‘cast your cold eyes’,

it is but the Bull-King & the Lion-Queen

ever locked in love, for the rain must fall,

for the crops must grow; magic must happen –

For even when Banipal the Ashur weeps

by the chars of Nineveh, Caliban rages

for his face is not in the mirror, and kind Birsa –

he brings folks closer, tells them to turn their tears

into blazing torches – it is but the clocks turning

And the clocks turn still

through memories & other epitaphs

like humans long dead leave tales behind

for humans long to be born, to know, to learn;

such are stately, tall trees who, through

their trunks, deep inside their barks –

hold memories of eclipses that had come & passed by.