RELINQUISH

 

RELINQUISH

 

 

We met, considered a relationship,

After a few years of intimacy, love,

Surprised our heart found love,

Crossed the barrier of class status,

From ordinary life root deprived,

Socially outcast link untouchable,

The community lived a world apart,

Far from a glittering world position,

Fame and fortune fated drunken,

The immensity of rich life proud shield,

Street bifurcate the slum and city,

The community we lived, worked only,

Menial jobs pittance life earned,

Enough for food, shelter, and clothes,

The boundary we knew dare not to cross,

Gold dissociates human life distinctly,

Remember, my study acknowledges,

Equal distribution of talent impartial,

Lord bestows on both sides of the street,

From slum, I reached university to gold,

There we crossed the wall and got friendly,

Intimacy lured us into matrimony,

We saw the violent protest threat,

Impossible to accept a youth low caste,

Social boycotts threatened families,

Faded soon, our bond, intimate love,

The fond buried in your heart,

Forced to marry a young man, rich,

Inherit position status, upper class,

Aristocracy exists not, ego barricade,

Received your invitation contemplate,

Watch my degree honor gold recognition,

Diluted before gold, not with ribbons,

But the weight of gold demarcates sadly,

Probed, what lacked, in my heart,

Colored skin, skin deep, blood same,

Birth, we didn't choose the mother's womb,

Equally divine glorious motherhood,

Anger visited, doused the flame in tears,

Still to move ahead in life stare future,

Love denied but rejection that hurt,

The dark patch of slum dweller too,

Quiet and silent looked at me vacant,

A chapter life turned shredded past,

Arrogance I have seen enough insulting,

A hatred that surprised me unprovoked,

Speechless, shocked, notice humans,

Called civilized polished decent gestures,

Radiate cruel eyes savage cowered,

Knew life is precious to keep distant,

Beyond any change sacrificed daughter,

They live to cherish pseudo-class,

Knew pyres are burning, fire engulfs,

Turn to ash human body unbiased,

Untouchable, I cried fire burns too,

Kindly allow cremation but classless,

The haut, ego, and arrogance disappear,

The black skin menial works cleared,

Ash on the same cremation ground,

Mingles homogeneously life ignores,

Knock at the door stood a postman,

Overseas invitations offer higher study,

Left my past life a love song ecstatic,

Left my country with a heavy heart,

Left my tag untouchable on the flight,

Watch the sky far above the ground,

Relinquish attachment tender heart,

Education lit minds escort impact!

 

Pen: Bijayananda Mishra

Title of Poem: Relinquish

Themes: Handed over sin to society resigned

Written: 5th August 2023, Cuttack

@ Copywrite

 

 

 

RELINQUISH

 

RELINQUISH

 

Telling you dear daughter stories,

Sought grace of Lord as the father,

Only one in life I dreamed acutely,

Chamber innermost of heart locked,

Reverently begged  the stone idol,

Never asked for a good result, career,

Little asked for luxury, wealth, home,

Believed it all came in life in time,

One by one, after marriage, arranged,

A job in metros, house, rest happened,

Everything as a couple felt dreamy,

Materialized in due course by effort,

Savings magic wand checked instinct,

Festive seasons lighted shopping malls,

Our passions checked,  dearest child,

Looked hungrily at  cosmetic goods,

Dress, utensils, gadgets, ornament,

Gold jewelry, mother's intentions,

Saved tours in vacation, tourist places,

Disbelieved our savings crossed million,

Husband n wife laughed a lot, what to do,

Answered my wife for children, I pinched,

How many, dear, you wish in the womb,

Her answer was a son, found I silent,

She ran after me; I never told her,

A hidden desire for a daughter, my secret,

Less believed God provides but prayed,

Son and daughter were both fulfilled,

You arrived first,  your brother next,

Your talent was visible in the school,

Silent, sober, decent demeanor loving,

Beautiful a flower blossomed in time,

Dignified personality after university,

A friend closest in my life, you confided,

Marriage inter-caste, you confessed,

confided secretly, your marriage to me,

Mother knew, objected vehemently,

For weeks tried my best to console,

She was crying inconsolably, hurt,

Her generation-old custom pricked,

Marriage to be within Brahmin families

I left her sobbing till she emptied all,

All her anguishes spent fuel in tears,

Swollen eyes, silent utterly, I evaded,

I feared first in life, never saw agony,

She opened suitcases of silk saree,

Rare prints, costliest, eye-catching,

Purchased for you for wedding,

Showed me gold necklaces, earrings,

Gold bangles, bracelets with gems,

Ring for you with jewel dazzling,

No more she was crying,  she smiled,

Socked, disbelieved looks sparkling,

I know, dear husband, you love her,

Still, your breath is your daughter,

I used all our savings for gifts, marriage

Precious heart is your daughter, I know,

I wished to please you, bought for her,

These are bridal dresses for  my daughter,

I spent lifelong savings, no hesitation,

Relinquish all mother's responsibilities,

To conduct her marriage  is not needed,

Present to her these gifts from us.

 

@ Bijayananda Mishra