Words

The sky is blue today A very Indian Autumn blue; Cloud wisps float in it, Tagoresque in their rhythm! The green of the trees And of the grass In white, yellow and gold, Shine incandescent; Yet pleasantly muted! I should be happy, you know: I usually am On such incandescent Autumn days...... But not today. Today I am not happy. Not at all happy; For you Have turned your back on me! Don’t know why, Can’t ask why, Why you have thus Hemmed yourself within Walls; Walls I can never scale. "Why, why have you?" I can’t help but ask Again and again Against your wordless Wall; And then tired, Of my own self ! Is it because you are hesitant to Give? But Oh! I haven’t asked Anything of you: Not asked for Rain, Nor for Clouds; Neither for Sunshine nor Stars; Not even for flecks of Stardust Or stray drops of Dew.....! All I ever asked, If one can ask unsaying: Was just your Words......! Was it all wrong then, That asking? Oh, but I thought Words were free. Your Words, All Yours to give.....! But I was terribly wrong Is it not Wrong as wrong can be? Words are not free. Fettered by Propriety, By Prudence and Pride... Words have never been free......! Free Words rattle Roots. Usher Revolution. Bring Ruin. No, I am too timid; Too timid To rattle Roots, To usher Revolution, To bring Ruin. And so I have learnt Now Just like you To Wall my Words... To shackle, weigh, reign them in.. For my Words too Must never never be free..........!