As They Pray, I Close My Eyes.... Poem by M D Dinesh Nair
As They Pray, I Close My Eyes....
SCENE 1
ANNASALAI BUS STATION, CHENNAI, INDIA:
I see on a hot Monday afternoon close to me and many
A hungry street child pulling down and eating in all hurry
The fruits served to an unknown deity
Who has ever been installed on a pedestal of stone.
I close my eyes and tell the deity,
“Be there, please”.
The hot sun melts into a crimson circle and the sky turns red,
An old bony man struggling to pull his loaded cart stops there
He folds his hands, bends before the deity
He chants his woes and worries and then moves away.
I open my eyes and ask the deity,
”What are you doing here? ”
SCENE 2
PUTHEN KURISSU CHURCH, THRISSUR, INDIA:
I stand near the Church on a Sunday afternoon,
An old pedestrian kneels down before the entrance of the church
Then whispers something for a while looking upwards.
As a speeding car stops near and people in silk get down,
He is forced to move away scared and silent
But with hopeful eyes which are a little wet.
I close my eyes and ask Mother Mary inside,
”Have you heard his prayer unfinished? ”
Mother Mary`s idol made of fine plaster of Paris
Stands on a white pedestal with the Infant in her hands,
Attired in white she looks compassionate in her eyes.
The women and men in silk come out laughing aloud
And they wake up the driver who has been on a nap.
They alight their Innova and speed away in all hurry.
I close my eyes and ask her,
”What did they all pray to you at all, Mother? ”
It's just a statue, nothing else - answering no-one's prayers. Interesting write Dinesh, with a touch of poignancy.
Very Beautiful..Its so true..unfinished prayers of a poor man....Touching poem....
A very much strong theme, close to satire..implied meaning is very poignant.it's time to redefine the divinity........ A finest example of prose-poetry.....but still i feel something missing....that fervent desire and ardent feelings...Isn't? A bit mild tone this time taking on divinity.... Anyway good job..
Touching! Sometimes if we sit and watch is easy to observe the loss of love, the unfairness of this world. Well said dear friend, what a shame on us, how sad, we are giving food(or money) to the church, a lifeless thing, while child is starving on its stairs...And than we dare to intrerrupt the spoken hope of an old man, to ask for... what? ...I will never know all I can do is cry for the unfair treat...
This is a good question. One night, Ibrahim Nabi of Muslims once struck down the idols except the large one of his village temple. His father was a sculpture who made and sold idols of Gods. Next morning, worshipers became furious and they assembled and brought the rational thinker Ibrahim before the temple.He was the suspected one about this crime.He simply said, O! , people please ask the big Idole.; Te axe is seen on his shoulder.That may be done by him.Then people said, No, It is you.Don't you know that these are idols.Then he said, If so why should you worship them who cannot eat, drink, do any thing.Then they said, Our forefathers did so.His own father said O! my son go away or I will stone you to death.People thronged decided to burn him.Sir, such is the world even today.Let us tell the truth.
'Statues and idols' are nothing but them! I am just articulating my plea irrespective of the listeners being there, Valerie. Thank you Pradip for your comment.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 10:48:46 AM # 1.0.0.1119
A poignant satire that strikes at the root of belief. Great write.