TWO
POEMS
JATINDRA MOHAN GANGULI
TRUTH
Truth–
In its quest I went,
Far and wide, in dark
and mist,
Life’s call behind I left.
On and on into the dark,
For in dark, not in
light
Truth can be, I thought.
Unreal this life, this
world,
Beyond them Truth I
sought.
What came in the way
And I saw, smelt and
felt,
Loved, desired and held:
No, to them I said.
And on I sped.
Faith
behind, hope ahead.
Then came a wall, strong
and tall,
Beyond no road I beheld.
But where’s Truth?
I must go and find I
said.
‘Truth not here, far
behind,
Its shadow on me you
find.
Truth was in life
In what you felt,
touched and smelt,
Loved, desired and held.
No, to them you said
Your steps the wrong way
led.
Not in dark, mystery and
shadow
For Truth to life and
light you go.”
So the wall said,
Good truth it had said.
MY DEITY
In pain, agony and
sorrow
I sat before my Deity;
Tears flowed down the
cheek
Over
Her feet.
On Her eyes of stone
My eyes fixed.
Unmoved but stood the
Image of stone,
Sad I sat alone.
Then I touched Her feet,
Spoke my sorrow and
mercy begged;
But no answer came, no
comfort said.
In fatigue down I lay
Over the altar my head
did stay,
My eyes from Her turned away.
Then to Her I looked
again,
To
surrender my fear and pain.
“Not for sorrow
You gave me sorrow
But for my good
To come
to-morrow.”
When to Her so I said
My fear and worries
left.
“I know not,
You know my good and
best.”
Again I said
And light now I felt.
My sorrow, grief and
pain
Went their way,
And I rose happy
And
went my way.