What I Have Heard From A Sage Poem by DEEPAK KUMAR PATTANAYAK

Once a monk was taking bath in a river
And while offering water
To the sun as deity
Saw something falling from the sky
And in a flash grounded
As if to a place designated
And it was beside
A beautiful riverside
Bounding waters, hills and ghat
And the monk as if waiting for it
Went ahead to see what it is in the place
And found amazingly a little mouse
Eyes yet to open, pink and fresh
And legs as tiny as little stars
And it seemed
His pity for it went through him deep and wide
Like wave after wave of water
Came crashing and flooded him with pleasure
In a blue and sunny
Weather of destiny
For he picked it up and transformed it
Unto a little girl angelic and sweet
And time went by
And stole forth her innocence and infancy
To a land where there seemed
No seasons except the spring that ruled
And had gotten stragle-hold on them
To think nothing but her beauty and bloom
Thus the flush and bloom of her newness seemed blasted
Into a beauty in fact a princess unparalleled
And now her divine father seemed very happy as well as sad
For he wanted her daughter soon to be married
So she was being prepared to receive a proposal of marriage
Hesitant yet she seemed awaiting in a contentment of calmness and courage
A prince to come and ask for her hand
And the sun being enlightened of this offer agreed
For it sounded grateful in his ear
And her father was so happy to call him as brave, bright and stronger
Unrivaled as one and one only in this universe
So father called his daughter to come and see how the sun shines
She came and saw him sitting cool, composed and confident
And told her father, "he is everything you told of him but
He is too hot for me to get married"
So upon this proposal not being materialized
Her father asked the sun humbly
Could you please tell, "is there any one better and stronger than you;
Yes there is one who dares intercept me on my way
And hangs over my fair image for a day
Or even days at an elevation
And he is none
Other than the cloud over your face"
Oh yes he looks fairy and he carries wings,
He brings rains
And he brings solace
Then father called his daughter to come and see the cloud,
A handsomer in wings and long and dark-haired
But father he is not tender
In touch, nor gentle of voice, nor constant in colour and care
Sometimes grey and sometimes here,
Sometimes white, sometimes dark and sometimes there
He is too fickle for me to get married
So upon seeing this proposal not getting materialized
Her father solicited the help of the cloud
And asked him, do you know a person bold,
Beautiful and stronger than you
Oh yes there is one who blows me away
In a second and dances on my bosom
And he is none other than the wind cool and calm
Yes you are right he is stronger and cool
And sings songs well
In day and night as and when he wishes
For he is so melodious
In summer like a bee he hums
And in spring like a cuckoo he calls
And he is sweet yet he sounds autumn
When sifting through the pines he is heard to moan
Then her father called her to come and see the wind
But father he is very short-tempered
Sometimes he behaves like a hurricane, sometimes like a gentle breeze
Sometimes he smells like a rose
And sometimes like a stale, stinking odd
After all he is too angry for me to get married
Upon this proposal not resting in safe haven
Her father asked very politely to the wind, could you tip off one
Who is better and stronger than you
Oh yes there is one who thwarted always my way
And he is none
Other than the mountain
The tall, broad-chested and seasoned
Firmly implanted to our land
Sitting majestically I know not since when
Yes you are right he might be the right option
But father he is too old for me to get married
Finding himself on this nearly discomfited
Her father lapsed into a dilemma again
And asked in politeness to the mountain
If there is one who is better and stronger than you
Oh yes there is one having ear, paw and a very lively eye
And gnaws holes around my body while I am awake or asleep
And throws me into a position vulnerable upon which I drift and decline and slip
Into a little further of my place
And he is none other than the mouse
Hearing him enthusiastically
The monk called her daughter and put his arms round her and said fondly
Never mind my daughter, your happiness lies in your choice
And you may find this in the mouse
It was not your fault then
Nor mine
Upon metamorphosing you into a little princess
And now a mouse
It is all a game of destiny
I was just a midway
To bring and bless you together as one
For marriages are made in heaven