The venerable path ahead beckons my soul
I could withhold myself no more
I was so done with mundane life
I wanted to soar beyond earthly strife
I seek my salvation on the open road
Silk route - melting pot of east and west
Bringing to the world the very best
Merchants, monks, fortune seekersvagabonds, rural and urban dwellerstraversing from India, China to gorgeous Mediterraneanenabling development of multitudinous civilizations
The bustling road providing succour
To my weary soul
Resting at night under the glimmering constellations
The road gleaming like the robe of fair maidens
I let go of my tiresome burdens
I revel in the pristine shimmering light
Drinking to my heart’s fill this verdant sight
The earth stretched its arms wide
Letting me swirl in the cheerful notes
Of this public road
The conversations of fellow merchants and others
Ebbing and rising as sure as the tides
I willingly pause, contemplate intently
There was so much to catch upon
From the stories that swirled around
From faraway lands of the Chinese, Persians, Somalis,Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Armenians, Indians and Bactrian
The manmade lines dissolve in my mind
East, west, north, south in my heart combined
I accept their beauty and the roughness
Their philosophy and religious diversities
In this surreal route with pregnant clouds above
The brawny landscapes and rippling waters
I have found kernel of happiness floating in open air
It melts into me charging my soul
That was earlier hanging threadbare
This exchange of ideas, languages, new inventions,
From lands known and unknown enriches me daily
I suspend willingly all apprehensions
I embrace all this knowledge
More precious than words can tell
I carry back with me
Vignettes of cities and lands that I pass
Through selling my wares on this route
I leave a part of me in faraway lands too
On this grand road all differences melt
I give every bit of me to this road
Joining, my comrades of the road
In silent harmony.
Bio
Dr Paromita Mukherjee, Associate Professor,Visakhapatnam, is a voracious reader, passionate painter/crafter, philanthropist. A participating author/poet of more than forty national /International short story and poetry anthologies. Winner of multiple literary contests. Participated and presented more than 21 research papers on Literature/HR/ Cultural Studies. Book of poetry titled ‘Sylvan Fragrance’ available on all major online platforms.
Twitter Handle- @paromita2906
Facebook Page-www.facebook.com/paromita2906
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