MAN, POET, NOVELIST
While trying to write a novel, instead
He ended up with a poem :

       fresh fragrance of jasmines
                        colours of butterflies
       madness of the sea
                        invitation of the sky

And the solitary koel's sweet coo-coo-cooing -
Can any one write a novel with this ?

While trying to write a poem,  instead
He ended up writing a novel :

         younger daughter's marriage
                          eldest son's unemployedness
         association-members' threats
                           house owner's notice

And the chitter-chatter litany of the same old wife -
Can one hope to write poetry with this ?


In the spinning gyre of prose and poetry
He completely forgot life :

          mosque-mandir clashes
                      Kalahandi's death shrieks
          naked skeletons of footpath
                      hoolabaloo in parliament

And the soaring prices of dal, salt and rice -
everything he did forget :

While trying to write a novel, he became
himself a novelette ....