Meeting Ramakanta Ratha In A Hospital(11-08-2018) Poem by Bharati Nayak

Meeting Ramakanta Ratha in a Hospital(11-08-2018)

It was accidental,
He was sitting in a wheel chair
With his beloved wife
Coming by his side
When he came into the hall
I was facing him front to front.
I could recognize him instantly
(Does he recognize me?)

I had met him ontwo occasions,
Oncein a Poets' Meet as a Guest
And once in a Book Fair
When I was searching for poetry books
Asking the stall owner
A Poetry book by Ramakanta Ratha
Unaware that he was standingthere.
I scolded the stall owner
For why did he keep poetry books in a corner
Hidden from the readers.

After the purchase
I suddenly became aware of him
With a delight as well assurprise
I bowed to him in regards
And introduced myself as a small poet
Who was a fan of his poems.

I got my book signed
And happily came back.
Had there been cell phone then
I could have clicked some memorable moments.
(It was memorable for me, but was it
memorable for him?)

Even if in a hospital
I wanted to touch his feet
And introduce myself as a fan of his poetry.
Will it be decent
When he has come for treatment
May be he is in pains
How prudent it is
To waste his valuable time! !

I was sitting front to front
He i
on the wheel chair
And I on a bench
When his name was called
Alady whoheard the name
Came to him and touched his feet in reverence.
I wanted to follow,
Then I looked to my side
My husband was sitting there.
No, his male ego will be hurt
If I bendtosomebody else's feet.
Perhaps, a storm will brew in a cup
For a reason so small.
There was a storm inside me
Many storms will come and go
This storm I fought inside me
For I can't make
Someone understand
What is poetry
And how
Poet, poetry and lovers of poetry
Arerelated.