The Dam Poem by Jagannath rao Adukuri

Then, at the dead of the night
The waters rose and swelled
To the high mud embankment
And spilled over to the village.
The mountains calmly looked on
While a flying chariot-in-flames
Had sheared their edges smooth.
The river swelled with pride
As rain poured into catchments
In the rugged mountain ghats.

The river is now bound within banks
Tamed by a man-made monstrosity.
There is no excitement of spate
It is now so much brown sand
And thin streaks of shallow water.
These days funeral fires rage
On the hot sun-baked river-bed.
On the annual festival days
Tens of thousands of merry- making
Peasants and townsfolk, alike,
Congregate on the brown sand
To celebrate their God's birthday.