The Self And The Story: Lost And Found Poem by Mrityunjay Jha

Am I a failure?
Why can’t I figure out myself?
In my story?
This is my story-No doubt.
But when I search myself in it-
I fail to find.
Isn’t it pitiable? And deplorable too?
My story and not me!

“Don’t be upset dear story-writer.
……………………story and characters in it,
Are quite apart these days………….
It is not pitiable……the Fashion
…………….story without characters……….”

Well ………..that I do agree.
If I get lost in the story
I must find others story.
Characters may differ
The story remains the same.
“…………….yes dear………Now you are on track
……………go ahead…………….search
For other’s story………our
Stories remain stagnant……..
But we keep changing…………..
One Mask……….Two…..Three……………so on
We all are one character………….
Ever keep failing in the story…………….
……...Well…….just move and seek…….
Just seek and find………”
Let’s go for other’s story-
An old woman…..sitting on
A cot…………An Indian village.

Why she looks dismal and dim?
Does she cut a figure of note?
Can there be a story of her?
“…………….yes………..Why not?
Every life is a story in itself and everyone a narrator.
…………..so go to her and ask her story……”

Dear old lady,
why are you sad?

My boy,
I’ve been like this for long.
How could an old lady do a song?
In fact I am not sad.
I am just meditating upon-
My Time and Tide.
Two years back my son went to a city-
To earn and to buy my medicine
But he never returned.
No Return. No Medicine.
I have no one to look after me.
I ‘m all alone now.
I used to toil and boil.
But now my bones ache.
Let me die for my sake.
It’s better to die than living and waiting on others mercy.
…………………………………………………………………………
Who cares whom?
………………………..
And patience has its boundary.
…………………………………………….
Everything gone…………….so……………..
To prayers…………….to prayers.
Oh! ……………I’m sick……..
O dear life! Stop my breath.
……………………………………………
Who cares whom?
So…..let me die………………

I, thus, heard her story.
I felt pathetic.
I must have helped her.
Could not I have……………?
No. I can’t……….we can’t…………
Who can’t even help himself-?
How he can others.

NICE EXCUSE.

This is not a single piece.
Such stories…………
All bound…………….
All around………………
The story of humanity or lack of it
Is-
EVERLASTING.
ENDLESS.
EVER FIXED.

“Is this a tragedy then? ”

No. Absolutely not. Rather,
Ours a FARCE.
Since tragedy presupposes some Dignity.
And we have none.

“How long these miseries go? .........”
Have you seen the magician?
The Holy Man…………The Soothsayer.
Find him, he could change all.
All shall be happy, all be gay.
But this is only the month of May.
What do you think? What do you say?
………………………………………………………..
If winter comes………………..
“……………..well………………then it would stay…………..”
Why so? ................where the other one?
“…………spring does not visit this part of our Universe.
………………Here…………..A strange clock………….
WHEN WINTER ENDS; SUMMER BEGINS.
…………………Here……………………………………..
NO SPRING………………………NEVER SPRING “

Well, that I can see…..yes I can……………
And can say-
We can’t mourn this loss. Since……………….
WE’VE KILLED THE SPRING.