Destiny Poem by Bishnupada Sethi

Drawing inspiration from the texts
Of faith and values
Often, she would narrate
A tale from her favourite epic book
How the great king Parikshita
Incurred the wrath of Rishi ‘Shamika'
For placing around the neck
Of his meditating father-
A dead snake.

A pious soul himself though
The king was enraged
When the silent monk
Didn't respond to his entreaties
For some water-
Thus he went crazy
Being hungry and thirsty.

She would further describe
With a heart very heavy
Pointing at the destiny
About the inevitable end
The remorseful king faced
Despite the best efforts
To wriggle out.

Pausing and looking at me
She would say
Few words of wisdom-
Whatever I might do
In the best possible way
To provide her all the care
She would have to depart one day
Not a moment later or earlier.

I had a deep fear inside
To be left alone behind.
Often I would be driven mad
In a frenzy of activities
On learning about some illness
Or any difficulty she faced.

I know what it means to live
In the dread of losing everything
When the nervous trepidations
Attempt to rupture
A tender heart.

The story of the king is no more told.
The epic book lies unattended.
My heart throbs have calmed
In the warmth of ceaseless tears.

I gaze at the endless sky
To know what more is there in destiny.

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