Khyber Pass Poem by Sadiqullah Khan

The majesty has the king's bow before
The nights see through some uneven ravines,
There on the hillock lies the fortress; and legends
say that this is built by Asoka.
They would overlook the path through the pass,
and down lays the fort by Mongols, that would carry
The ritual of death.
And who passed it unhurt would utter a sigh of relief
and tears too for the captivating beauty.
The Buddhist Stupa did not preach peace either:
And someone who had beeen looking for treasures,
Underneath.
Went lunatic.
The dragon's teeth are not just a symbol.
And you have to pas through it,
As last night we made our way through the den,
for a safe passage.
The Raj lived it.
Respected it.
Loved it.
And marched through the peaks and valleys, to and fro
from one world to another.
They also died in it abundantly.
These stones have seen,
The marching bandwagons
Expedient tradesmen and caravans
And some mysterious objects.

Torkham
Feb 12,2011