Beauty

I made towards the bench after the morning stroll.
Shadowed by a banyan tree, it was my favorite spot in the park.
What was it on the seat? Something black and ugly was writhing and cawing.
The little crow was scared and was calling out to its mother.
A few others had already come to rest on the bench.
The sight seemed repulsive for them, as they insisted it be thrown away.
All they had for the weakling was disgust and contempt.
I picked it up, with my hands, and placed it on a branch.
Several made fun of me; some thought I had lost it.
But did it matter? Can a baby be filthy or gross?

On my way to work, I found this dog on the road.
It was lame, and had also lost an ear.
It looked ill; it was evidently in pain,
With blood oozing from the numerous wounds of its body.
I changed my mind, and picked the animal up in my arms.
I would carry it home, and treat this poor creature, and take care of it.
“The Savior!” people call me behind my back.
They taunt me for my habit of supporting the poor and the destitute
And scorn the absence of despise in me.


The church bells rang, as I came out,
Holding the hand of my newly-wed wife.
There was no one around, not a single of my kinsfolk was present.
For my family, I was an outcast, a pariah.
My people were against this marriage, “The girl is not fair,” they said.
“Nor does she belong to our caste. This relationship will never linger.”
I held her soft hands firmly in mine and together we descended the steps.
To all those, who had criticized our marriage, I say,
We did live happily ever after.


I was sitting alone in a dark room, on the eve of my life.
I was recollecting, how the world had laughed at me,
Mocked me, and humiliated me, for my abhorrence to sensual pleasures.
The world around me has become too materialistic.
How do I explain to all the people that true beauty, lies within?
Ugly, filthy, grotesque, dark, are just words for me, as
I shut my eyes in order to see!