Dried Red Rose Poem by Diwakar Bhatt

One day I took out a book from shelf,
Didn’t remember when I read it myself.

Slowly dusted with a cloth quite clean,
Title “Romeo & Juliet” could be seen.

Suddenly, eyes filled with tears of pain,
A blurred image in mind sharpened again.

Stood with the book in trembling hands,
Such deep grief I could hardly withstands.

All happenings came alive before my eyes,
As if a dark night quashed by bright sunrise.

Opened the book with affection and reverence,
It was a gift from a damsel who loved me once.

I could see a dried red rose still in the pages,
Symbol of true and pious love since the ages.

It was the rose I put into her coiled tresses,
When our immortal love was in the genesis.

Recalled our amorous meetings clandestine,
Youthful verve and unbridled desires to pine.

One day she met in the lowest of her mood,
Swollen eyes told of unfavorable vicissitude.

We only wept together without a word said,
Lastly she revealed her betrothal, a real dread.

She ran berserk not able to look into my eyes,
Left alone dumbfounded soon burst into cries.

Never could I meet her to my dismay brutal,
Lost in the human deluge somewhere to settle.

In the aftermath, happened something blissful,
A book reached my address in a parcel beautiful.

Two drops of her tears smeared in kohl I found,
Retold the story of Romeo and Juliet to astound.

Dried rose she sent in it to finish all links earthly
Keeping memories of love in her heart stealthily.

Lived my whole life reminiscing the cruel day,
Now frail I am in body and mind nothing to say.

Wherever she might be, let love be her companion,
In next life it will be our rendezvous to joyous union.