Hemant Bawankar
(All of the literature written by me was for self satisfaction. Now I started sharing them with you all. Every person has two characters. One is visible and another is invisible. This poem shows us mirror. Today, I present my poem ‘An innocent baby/Lesson to humanity ’.)
My introduction is available on following links.
☆ Weekly Column – Abhivyakti # 11 ☆
☆ An innocent baby/Lesson to humanity ☆
An innocent baby girl
in my neighbourhood
suddenly reminds me:
my daughter’s childhood.
Whenever she comes
to our home
suddenly she enthrall us
she fills our heart
with unlimited energy.
Her crawling on knees
in the house
suddenly reminds us
our kids’ childhood
and
we are forced
for crawling
on knees
with her.
Her innocent
crawling
towards us
in our arms
on our lap
claims her right
unknowingly
reminds us
her relations
our debts
of previous life.
Her childlike activities
her laughter
her obstinacy
and
above all
her pure heart
as of almighty God
suddenly compels and inspires us
to shower
the blessings on her
she may flourish
she may grow well
however,
her heart must be pure
as it is today.
She does not know
this world
the ups and downs
black and white
man and woman
race and religion
rich and poor
composite culture.
Suddenly I recall the story
‘Kabuliwala’*.
I am afraid.
She will certainly
forget us
when she will grow old
and
for this
you all will be answerable
you all will be responsible.
‘You’
you – the society
you – the contractor of the society
you – the contractor of the religion
you – the media
and
perhaps to some extent
me too
I – the present
I – the mirror
I – the humanity
I – who could not fight
with you.
However,
I will play
my role of humanity
and
from time to time
I will show you
the mirror
so that
you will not dare
to toss a pebble
on our calm river
of the great composite culture.
Nothing is impossible
if you can keep
your heart clean,
as the heart of
an innocent baby girl
in my neighbourhood.
* Rabindranath Tagore’s famous tale “Kabuliwala
© Hemant Bawankar, Pune
