Magical Evenings

Magical Evenings

(scintillating memories)

~

Colorful podium

Readied

Portable Candelabra

Readied

Guest chairs

Ordered, placed

Colorful “shamiana”

Aka Tent readied

For

Magical Mushaira/

Kavi sammelan

 

(These poetry fests have

Poets who recite their

Work and/or sing as well)

 

Invitations

Verbal,

In person

Printed

Sent

Some accepted

Few declined

By those portly

Well-fed

Oily but lucky

Ones due to prior

Commitments

 

(*often much sought

After may not be as good

As the disdainful, lofty, hungry

Ill tempered testy but by far

The most Superior poet)

 

Eminent shayars

Pandered to, well

Pampered

Often wooed in person

A pecking order

Established

Prior to fest

Few popular ones

Had many invites

For same night

Air bristled

With bated

Excitement

Electricity

Great enjoyment

in the offing!

Hungry threadbare

Accepted

With alacrity- fate

Also played villain

For many sublime

Ones became

Renowned and

Revered only

Posthumously

Alas! Such is destiny’s

Perfidious

trickery

Poets in pristine white

“Kurta” shalwar, pajamas

Few with flowing beards

More salt pepper

Straggly goatees

Women in colorful

Bordered saris or

Salwar kameez

Armed with sheafs

Filled with poems,

Couplets- ghazals

Jhumlas

And shayari-

Sounds of ‘arz kiya hai”

Daad dijiyegaa”

..Would abound

And if the couplet

Hit home, a wave

Of appreciative

“wah wahs” would

Resound amidst

Vociferous claps

Urging once more

Once more

For repetition

Of the wonderful

Couplets

 

Star studded evenings

A lit “shama” (lamp)

Placed in front of next

“Round robin” poet

Who fully charged-

Bided his time

Patiently for own turn

And invitation lamp

To put forward own

Paid for by blood guts

Sweat work-burning

Midnight oils-

Grey cells toiled, tooled

“Oeuvre” before fellow

Discerning poets/crowd

At home hungry needy

Parents, wife, kids

Waiting for “money purse”

Promised- the hungry

Cinderella poet who turned

King for one night

Laments end of yet another

Magical night-where his

Soul was set alight

Warmed by limelight

Before return to usual

Drudgery

Life of needs

Baring back of bard’s

Thick hide for shrugging

Off daily scathing verbal

Abuse hurled by joint family

Who need substantial

Sustenance to survive

Day to day life

Empty words

Alone cannot fill

Their gaping needy

Mouths, emaciated

Frames, hunger

Distended bellies

~

(glossary: shamiana+ tent/awning kavi/shayar- poet

Mushaira/kavi sammelan- poetry reading

Shama= lamp

Arz kiya hai- I am offering

“daad dijiyega” – do appreciate the nuances/meaning

“wah-wah” sound of appreciation)