>≫≫The Shrine Of A Holy Saint Poem by Abdul Wahab

Once upon a time my father was a care taker
Of a grave of a saint and he asked me
To take over his job which I politely refused
So he bought me a donkey
And sitting on its back I used to make enjoyable journey
But one day it fell sick and died
I was shattered and pulled hair out of my bald head
People who were going for pilgrimage saw my grief
And out of pity they covered my donkey
With twigs and leaves
Some covered it with mud
Another kind hearted man put the mound
In a wooden box
So that it could not be eaten up by any fox
I just sat there staring and brooding
But the people of nearby huts
Took me as bereaved devotee of a great saint
And painted the coffin white
Out of respect for his master and disciple
Soon the burial site became a worshiping place
From all the corners people offered flowers, fruits and incense
No long time was taken to reach the news
To my great father, the great care taker of the holy tomb
And he was overjoyed to see me there
And said ‘’I am very glad for your success
But tell me who is that great saint buried under the land? ‘’
‘’Oh my proud father’’, answered I
‘’It is the grey donkey you gave me ‘’
He jumped up and embraced me tight
Shouting out loud ‘’what a wonder, what a surprise!
The shrine of mine too is that of a donkey
My father gave to me ‘’