A Tale Of Seasons Poem by Raghav Bal Mardhekar

A TALE OF SEASONS 
New  Delhi  22/4/99


I   saw   the   gray   mists   rising
Cresting   high   o'er   the   tide
The   thunder   of   the   tempest
Lashing   shores   bleak   and   wide

I   watched   the   heaving   breast
Gasping   out   a   tortured   plea
As   the   tempest   shrieking   struck
From   its   home   beneath   the   sea

The   tears   of   headless   trees
In   pools   of   blossoms   lay
Torn   limbs   with   studied   care
Ranged   along   the   traveller's   way

I   heard   the   groans   of   men
In   silent   impotence   caged
Mute   spectators   they   stood
Even   while   the   tempest   raged

But   then   its   ordeal   over
Nature   relented   for   a   while
I   saw   the   first   faint   twitching
Of   the   beginning   of   a   smile

The   pangs   of   birth   were   over
I   watched   sweet   Nature   bring
Midwif'd   by   seasonal   Time
Earth's   golden   child   of   Spring

Soft   fragrance   lined   its   cradle
Of   coyly   blushing   blooms
Woo'ed   by   a   gentle   breeze
It   wafted   through   my   rooms

I   saw   the   Gate's   were   open
In   tranquil   skies   above
The   Heaven's   gift   of   sunshine
Sent   for   the   child   with   love

The   tears   the   trees   had   shed
To   nectar   turned   by   Night
They   nursed   the   smiling   infant
Midst   gurgles   of   delight

Spring   skipped   her   way   to   youth
Light   footed   'cross   my   dreams
Her   songs   of   joy   had   echoed
'Cross   mountains,    vales   and   streams.

While   still   her   locks   shone   gold
Time   led   his   Earth   to   bed
For   Nature's   rules   are   strict
Four   times   the   Earth   must   wed.

Their   union's   long   been   fated
Their   childrens'   names   are   known
Spring,    Summer,    Autumn,    Winter
Each   in   their   image   grown

I   wonder   what   she's   thinking
As   she   looks   upon   each   birth
The   angry   face   of   Summer
Her   soft   Spring's,    lilting   mirth.

Her   Autumn's   clad   in   sunsets
Quiet   Winter   pensive   stares
Earth's   pride   is   shared   equal
By   the   offspring   that   she   bears.

When   Summer's   fiery   temper
Scorched   her   dancing   ground
Then   Spring,    soft,    fragile   creature
Could   no   longer   skip   around.

She   waited   knowing   another
Would   quieten   Summer's   ire
For   Autumn   lowers   the   temper
Stills   Summer's   raging   fire.

Freed   of   the   Summer   sun
Mother   Earth's   in   shadow   thrust
Her   Autumn   gives   her   clothes
Of   soft   gold   and   melding   rust.

With   quiet   and   firm   demeanour
He's   dressed   ever   so   neat
Some   hues   of   Spring   he   wears
With   a   mellowed   Summer's   heat

His   time   is   short,    he   knows
Cold   Winter's   in   the   womb
But   Autumn's   ever   cherished
For   his   colours   break   the   gloom

Staid   Winter's   born   in   white
Earth   nurtures   him   in   turn
A   quiet   life   spent   awaiting
For   his   sister   to   return

Of   all   the lovely   siblings
I   do   love   Spring   the   most
Her   laughter   and   her   colours
For   three   Seasons   had   been   lost

I   loiter   across   the   meadows
Spring's   gaiety   by   my   side
Her   locks   of   gold   are   rampant
Like   the   frothing   of   the   tide

Each   year   the   Earth   is   fertile.
Spring,    Summer,    Winter,    Fall
I   envy   her   her   children
And   her   equal   pride   in   all.