Divide And Rule Poem by Prafulla Kumar Panda

Last night
before lying on bed
i chewed my thought that lurked
in my front head-
and grinded it to dust
and volleyed and threw

lo! I witnessed a greater reaction
when Raktabirya-like its number grew
and all ferociously grew
and their fiery eyes stared at me with suspicion
and marched out into me in legion
like the jhugi-dwellers on procession
prepared to unleash a revolution

in utter confusion
i sat putting my head on both palms
suddenly,
i heard some sound echoing
from four walls within-
'divide and pick some to rule'
so I picked the meek and who're gentle
and the young as tongue-like they shone
my love like dainties fed them
they grew like plants with affection
and around me like pets they roam
and like forts, faithfully they stood
during my turbulent mood

others, who're impatient,
restless they grewbeing hungry and dastardly mean
deafening chides they spewed
and challenged me for the division
forcing me again
to run into a maze of confusion

with 'fatherly patience during the storm
and motherly protest in silence'
i fortified my heart and my confidence
i saw them straight as they pas
until their fiery eye-balls popped out and flashed
tormenting my dream
and leaving me to woe and scream
until tomorrow morning.

©Prafulla Panda, India
All rights reserved.

(Raktabirya- In Hindu Mythology, it's a demon who got a boon that
whenever a drop of his blood would fall on the ground a duplicate
Raktabirya would born and thereby there was no death spell on him.)
(Rakta=Blood; birya=semen/seed) .