Second Going Poem by Valsa George
Second Going
At the prime junction,
Where three roads converged,
They set up a statue,
In mortar and cement.
The Mahatma in loin clothes,
Supported on a staff,
With spectacles on nose,
Stood erect on the pedestal.
The oldsters passed,
Bowing their heads.
The youngsters dashed,
Screeching their horns.
The kiddies paced,
Staring at the outlandish figure.
Exposed to sun and rain,
Covered with smut and dirt,
Stood the Mahatma,
Staring at the passing crowd.
Crows perched on tonsured head,
His shoulders stained with bird droppings,
Never once had he a cold shower,
His soiled mien, resembling a clown.
Silently witnessed many a brawl,
Blood and gore dazed his eyes,
Ghastly scenes constantly unfurled,
Street urchins, raiding trash bins,
With stray dogs that greedily devoured,
Every bit of morsel, left uncared.
Everything around looked dismal,
Save the sly politicians in starched white,
Home spun ‘Khadi’, camouflaging their self,
Itching palms, needing constant greasing.
Congregated they at the Gandhi Square,
The day prior to the Martyr’s Day.
What should be the agenda……?
They waxed eloquent.
Opinions differed,
Interests clashed,
Discussions lengthened,
Consensus never reached,
Each faction with an axe to grind,
Venom spit,
Hatred spawned,
Knives swished,
Gore spilled,
Speechless stood the Mahatma,
A fiery spirit possessed his self.
When night descended,
When darkness filled,
When the town clock tolled, the midnight hour,
He descended the pedestal in silent rage,
Off with the staff! With sturdy gait,
Never casting a backward glance,
He walked in haste……….
Sans terminus……………!
when i read the title (quickly) i thought this was to be about the percussion section of the Delhi orchestra! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “Sans terminus” ……..without end? He, the statue, will keep on walking, looking for [and perhaps NEVER finding] a better view of people! Full Definition of terminus plural termini play \-ˌnī, -ˌnē\ or terminuses 1. 1: a final goal: a finishing point 2. 2: a post or stone marking a boundary 3. 3: either end of a transportation line or travel route; also: the station, town, or city at such a place: terminal 4. 4: an extreme point or element: tip [the tip of an iceberg A GREAT POEM. Gandhi had “guts” before he was killed. But his statue took a long time to finally move out of the area where birds pooped on him and politicians bickered (and worse) . OR maybe the statue had moved numerous times? And moved at night to avoid complications only its predecessor (and his followers) could deal with. As for politicians, I still am glad “others” take care of “running governments” (with help from big business and the military and the news-people) , as I would never want to be a politician and SOMEONE has to be, ……unless maybe one lives in North Korea or Russia or? ? I REALLY enjoyed reading this. I read a little bit of and by Gandhi (though I still have trouble remembering the spelling) when I was a senior in college, working to get a ‘conscientious objector’ deferment from my Selective Service draft board. I did get it and was not required to go into the military. Instead I cared for patients in a civilian stateside hospital for two years. To MyPoemList. Bri :) p.s. I might have questioned one tiny thing in the poem, but it doesn’t matter. ;) :) “Sans terminus” ……..without end? He, the statue, will keep on walking, looking for [and perhaps NEVER finding] a better view of people! Full Definition of terminus plural termini play \-ˌnī, -ˌnē\ or terminuses 1. 1: a final goal: a finishing point 2. 2: a post or stone marking a boundary 3. 3: either end of a transportation line or travel route; also: the station, town, or city at such a place: terminal 4. 4: an extreme point or element: tip [the tip of an iceberg A GREAT POEM. Gandhi had “guts” before he was killed. But his statue took a long time to finally move out of the area where birds pooped on him and politicians bickered (and worse) . OR maybe the statue had moved numerous times? And moved at night to avoid complications only its predecessor (and his followers) could deal with. As for politicians, I still am glad “others” take care of “running governments” (with help from big business and the military and the news-people) , as I would never want to be a politician and SOMEONE has to be, ……unless maybe one lives in North Korea or Russia or? ? I REALLY enjoyed reading this. I read a little bit of and by Gandhi (though I still have trouble remembering the spelling) when I was a senior in college, working to get a ‘conscientious objector’ deferment from my Selective Service draft board. I did get it and was not required to go into the military. Instead I cared for patients in a civilian stateside hospital for two years. To MyPoemList. Bri :)
Installing a statue of a man of saintly stature and forgetting all aspects of dignity due to be given by all walks of life in due form is definitely mortifying our father of nation.......Valsa.......so well presented in very touching words....10
We need the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, we need non-violence.
You have presented the indignation furiously.I like it.Had the power-mongers in his party agreed to his suggestions, India would not have been dissected.Even Mr, Sashi Taroor recently remarked, Gandhiji's Grama Swaraj is not practical in India in a world of Globalization! Then what of the new generation!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/23/2024 9:49:40 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Speechless stood the Mahatma, A fiery spirit possessed his self. When night descended, When darkness filled, When the town clock tolled, the midnight hour, He descended the pedestal in silent rage, Off with the staff! With sturdy gait, Never casting a backward glance, He walked in haste………. Sans terminus……………! ........touching expression. I is a beautiful poem relating to Mahatma Gandhi. We should study the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi.