DIASPORA

 

DIASPORA

 

The most ancient civilization persists,

Withstood the vagaries of time routed,

Stands till modern times look at twenty-first,

The century eagerly awaited stays supreme,

The triangle base of the Himalayas widest,

From the Hindukush to Rangoon expanse,

Touched the Indian ocean at Kanyakumari,

The peninsula of billion plus people plural,

Hosts countless cultures, tribes, ethnics,

Color the hundreds of languages, cultures,

The people believe in God's path numerous,

Citadel of interfaith tolerance coexistence,

Thousands of Masjids, Churches, temples,

Equal the monasteries education hubs,

All are growing majestic democracy help,

Freedom, fundamental right liberty won,

True equality for the vast population stark real,

Exercises franchise election mindboggling,

From destitute, laborer, and peasants to corporate,

From female, male, young or old alike,

Their index finger decides the ruler, mighty,

The opposite happens, massive landslides,

A tea seller child on a train gets victorious,

A newspaper boy minority is the president,

A tribal woman replaces his position,

Democracy, significant exercise, marvel,

The smooth transition of power  progress,

Freedom to women, free education focus,

Senior citizens get support health onus,

Youth educated skilled migrate worldwide,

Ages ago traveled across the ocean as laborers,

Cane fields, granaries, industry demand,

Generations settled accepted nationalities,

The language, culture, food, dress styles,

Little eroded, still visible, the rituals,

Practices the same faith builds temples, Gurdwara,

Follows customs of forefathers practices,

Thousand miles away from ancestor's land,

Still, love treats the motherland feel nostalgic,

Remind centuries ago, traveled on ship,

Established built homeland children grew,

Flowing back home of forefathers, experience,

An ocean of life complex yet splendor pull,

Intoxicate festivals celebrate ancient land,

Smeared with colors spray color powder,

The dance song musical, drum rhythm,

Folk dancers dress in costumes, colorful,

The stepping ecstatic entices the heart to sing,

To dance in synch smiling soul is lost,

Tearful feels forefathers were like this,

Happy, prosperous, wise, knowledgeable,

Indomitable spirit, benevolent, kind, loving,

Hospitable, never been aggressor, gentle,

Knew, still recognize peace, care, compassion,

Love earth, nature, and the people of the world,

Brotherhood saves internal strife to amity,

Hundreds of islands in the ocean, countries,

Migration continues unabated, skilled,

Skilled people, now the spine of adopted land,

Engineers, doctors, scientists, builders,

Hardworking unscrupulous people,

Hiring respect, honor, rewards through work,

A few writers perform in art, culture,

World-class Diaspora linked to the past,

Travels very often visit length and breadth,

Experience millennia-old rich civilizations,

That extends a Diaspora over the globe.

Just one returned homeland freed from slavery,

In the third quarter of a century, indebted billions.

 

Pen: Bijayananda Mishra

Title of Poem: Diaspora

Themes: Overseas Indians Day

Date: 10th January 2023, Cuttack

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