On foot over mountains and valleys I pass,
I swim the tides over streams deep;
I tug my lass; yank my cow, my sheep,
And ache within to see it so.
God! You guard me from behind the clouds? Test me endure the hunger, the thirst? ”
I don’t know where I had, last a house.
Nor fed my young with a loaf of bread.
I forgot when, last I washed;
I’m a ghost deprived of all, but life.
From land to land of unknown sorts,
Amble and scrounge for crumbs on streets.
Folks scorn my spectacle and spit
I bow in shame for a sin not done.
I raise my eyes, scan the skies.
“God; why you lock yourself in paradise? ‘Stead bestow an audience to shield my woe.”
Where from am I? Where for to go?
Am I a refugee who flees or a Romany gypsy?
I’ve no crime on hands –yet crimson with blood my own.
I want to work – Yet, no work has me.
All scatter as I walk – like I am the plague
That might raise its hand to strike them dead.
“God! Tell me why you sealed, uncommitted wrong thus? So when I bow my head, I know the verse I sing? ”
And plead amnesty in humble words,
“Give me a chance to know where I belong.
Give me a road that leads to a home
Give me a country that I call my own
Grant me the blessing you have hallowed others along.”
And then a voice within me sang,
I blessed all plenty with a land to live.
I designed no boundaries to sweep across.
You severed my ground with Kingdoms and countries,
While I bled and cried and cried like you.
How long will it take for My children to know?
There exists for All one land.... and One God for all.
And then a voice within me sang, I blessed all plenty with a land to live. In my one bangla poem I have desired for free earth. The earth belongs to God and the human being has become refugee on his land. A very good theme to explore more. You have definitely sketched a beautiful scenery on the canvas of Creation, also weaved with your thoughts and feelings. Thanks for sharing.
I thank you for this lovely poem where you placed the hardship and the miserable life of the gypsy on the table in front of every body. I wish they get a permanat home to live with peace.
Wonderful Poem Rekha, I will give this poem a 10 luvd the subject u chose..poor gypsy so envied for the freedom n carefree wandering life yet so cursed by the severe hardships forced by such life..u hv brought it out beautifully
How long will it take for My children to know? There exists for All one land.... and One God for all...........It depends upon the understanding of the people. God is one and we are all the children of him. So nicely envisioned and beautifully depicted having marvellous phraseology. Thanks for sharing. ..... 10
Very unfortunate are the nomads and gypsies who do not have a permanent roof over their heads! They have to wander from place to place for a livelihood. But no where they are welcomed, but despised and treated harsh as if this Earth is the abode of a selected few. God has created only one Earth for all to cohabit and He has set no boundaries for any one! It is man who creates boundaries! A great write Roopa!
A universal poem that speaks for the oneness of all in God. Liked the way you developed the theme from different directions and made the streams of your thoughts converge on the oceanic bosom of His kindness - one land and one God for all.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A beautiful thought and poem, Roop. We are truly all one people and should start living as such