Navarasas - Bhibalsa Poem by Shankaran Kutty

(Bhibalsa is disgust. The feeling evoked by a grotesque, graceless, nauseating sight or person)

The conquering general surveyed his win
All around him
The millions of square kilometres
His army had won
For his Highness the king
And the bards will sing
Of his bravery
His tactics and strategy
A stronger army he had defeated
And they lay on the field
Killed or maimed
When it moved …

He moved in to see
The severed hand
Move on its own
One last time, it sickened him
And he turned back to move on
When the shining amulet
On the severed hand
He chanced to see
And wept
For it belonged to his son
Victor he was, but did not matter
For in death there was no victory

He wept again and searched
His son he found
The guts were out
Eyes gorged off its base
But still were searching
Was it respite or love ?
And then did he chance
To see around him
Sons and Brothers and fathers all
Their blood flowing together
Fought bravely against
Now, united in death