Speechless Acting Poem by Bireswar Halder

A play in its climax mesmerizes the whole audience
And they're left spellbound, in complete suspense
Audience curiously await the denouement in bated breath
This is slowly rolling to a tragedy, alas, the old actor dies.

The curious audience gets puzzled over the silence
Is it a real death or acting of death - confusion deepens
Ultimately audience believes - it's a natural death
The curtain drops, the still body that throbbed a moment back.

The drama ends and I stand nearby, speechless and dazed,
No opportunity to participate in the stage pulsating for so long
No chance to exchange any dialogues with anybody at all
The wise director keeps me away all through the play.

With a broken heart I introspect realities of life - what an attachment!
Every moment we run after name, fame, money, power and all
We are nothing but puppets by the hands of the invisible director
What a tragedy when we fail to enjoy our life and pleasures.

That invisible director compels me to act in a small role
That begins silently in a separate stage outside the stage
To lead the dead body to the burning ghat with co-actors
For offering farewell to the unknown actor who acted so well.

A last prayer for departed soul to rest in eternal peace
Slowly it enters into an electric chimney for another world
For a new life as soul is immortal - only change of form
With tearful eyes I return to my own stage to play remaining roles.