The Lost Emperor Poem by tej Singh

There was once a mighty ruler,

known for his courage and valour

Powerful and Rich,

Tall and Magnificient,

People trembled with fear,

whenever they saw him appear,

Whatever he wished, he snatched by force,

Innumerable wars he won,

yet he was thirsty for dominion.

Jewels and gems,

Golds and diamonds…

Women and wine flowed like rivers,

Still nothing appeased his apathetic self…..



Something still wasn’t possessed,

by his reign and through his fame,

He ruled on thousands

in every region of Indian plain

Directions too seemed to know,

that he was ruler and they bowed,

Then what was that, his heart missed?

Contentment or the Mental peace?



One day he saw a young monk, walking naked feet on the hot ground,

Surprised and shocked to see, the Emperor summoned for him,

The silent monk appeared in the court,

Courteous and Silent like a revered soul,

He smiled and wished the king “happiness”,

And asked the reason for his presence..

The lost Emperor asked “What makes you smile

..even when you have nothing in your life?

To which the pious soul replied, ” I have the Richest jewel inside “

That sparkles when I think of THEE,

Priceless and precious, when I care about the children of “HIM”

The contentment that I have in heart,

Is because Iam loved by all,

I wish to serve the mankind..

To get happiness in my bodily shrine..

The mighty Emperor had tears in his eyes,

He thought he was lost for a while,

The moment changed his lavish life,

“The Lost Emperor” got a reason to smile,

He started serving his subjects,

treating as his own children,

Spreading the light of happiness,

He preached love and peace amongst the humans.



How I wished I could be him,

writing golden pages in history

with the eternal word of love and compassion

which shone through his destiny…

How I wish hath I been the one

The mighty Chakravarti Emperor

Ashoka, thy name would hath been mine…

and my soul could hath stopped the

bloodshed and aftermath

of the gruesome war of Kalinga

which killed and slained millions

when the river Mahanadi flooded with blood and tears

floating bodies, amputated fears,

gory and wrath would ne’vr hath been

Had I embodied as Ashoka the mighty being!



Wars can never bring peace and will always bring more bloodshed. The world starves for peace and every nation today is devoid of the universal peace and harmony which should be the main motto of every nation and country.