This poem has been inspired by the short story
'Gregor Samsa' in Murakami's book 'Men Without Women'. Happy Reading!
He woke up
slowly
He expected himself to wake up with a start
Panicking and searching frantically
Like a swan separated from its loved one
But he woke up slowly
He felt the place around him
He was lying on soft and moist soil
In the colour of soaked tea dust
The branches above let little light on him
He bathed in the glory of the Tyndall effect
As he got up he realized that he was modestly clothed
With only a soiled tree bark cloth around his waist
How, Why, What, Where, When weren’t the questions on his mind
Instead he felt a hunger
Not for mortal necessities of food and water
But a divine one
He made his way through the forest
His feet kept moving but his mind was fixed on his hunger
The hunger was like a penance
Panicking and searching frantically
Like a swan separated from its loved one
But he woke up slowly
He felt the place around him
He was lying on soft and moist soil
In the colour of soaked tea dust
The branches above let little light on him
He bathed in the glory of the Tyndall effect
As he got up he realized that he was modestly clothed
With only a soiled tree bark cloth around his waist
How, Why, What, Where, When weren’t the questions on his mind
Instead he felt a hunger
Not for mortal necessities of food and water
But a divine one
He made his way through the forest
His feet kept moving but his mind was fixed on his hunger
The hunger was like a penance
Moaning and groaning inside him
Which would lead him to something more than what the Gods can bestow
Love
His hunger made the entire forest vibrate
Birds returned to their nests
Insects latched on to barks
Ants and Snakes went back to their hills
The entire forest watched with a thousand eyes
Frightened of the emanating purity from this man
He reached a clearing which gave way for a river
A river more vigorous than his hunger
But both had the power to kill men
He bent over to look at his face
His eyes were red glistening like rubies
Sweat made his face glow
Like a thousand fireflies
His lips were full like berries
His teeth inside the colour of ivory
He was startled by a whisper “Come”
He looked at the river
His eyes pleading to help him and his love
Which none cared to do
The river cleared away
Leaving his heart thirsty
He went on as though it was his only purpose in life
He didn’t know what he was looking for
Where it would be
How it would be
But he went on like an undeterred soldier
His armour, weapon and strength: his undying love
And that is when he saw him
A man in a tree bark cloth
Making way towards him
He was a little rugged
His beard flowed till his navel
His body was the colour of chestnut
And his chest was chisel carved
They looked at each other in the eyes
At that moment a thousand words were spoken
They knew nothing of each other
Name, Family, Religion, Caste nothing
But they knew one thing
They loved each other
Their love which would never be written in bards
Which even Adam and Eve were envious of
Tears flowed through their eyes
The hairs on his body stood up
And he noticed that his tree bark cloth did too
They felt themselves growing hot
As light from their bodies
Converged between them
Like a divine vision
For they knew that they could not be together in this mortal world
Filled with hate and disgust
Which would not understand their love
So they stepped into the vision hand in hand
Into a new world
Where nothing but
Love wins
Which would lead him to something more than what the Gods can bestow
Love
His hunger made the entire forest vibrate
Birds returned to their nests
Insects latched on to barks
Ants and Snakes went back to their hills
The entire forest watched with a thousand eyes
Frightened of the emanating purity from this man
He reached a clearing which gave way for a river
A river more vigorous than his hunger
But both had the power to kill men
He bent over to look at his face
His eyes were red glistening like rubies
Sweat made his face glow
Like a thousand fireflies
His lips were full like berries
His teeth inside the colour of ivory
He was startled by a whisper “Come”
He looked at the river
His eyes pleading to help him and his love
Which none cared to do
The river cleared away
Leaving his heart thirsty
He went on as though it was his only purpose in life
He didn’t know what he was looking for
Where it would be
How it would be
But he went on like an undeterred soldier
His armour, weapon and strength: his undying love
And that is when he saw him
A man in a tree bark cloth
Making way towards him
He was a little rugged
His beard flowed till his navel
His body was the colour of chestnut
And his chest was chisel carved
They looked at each other in the eyes
At that moment a thousand words were spoken
They knew nothing of each other
Name, Family, Religion, Caste nothing
But they knew one thing
They loved each other
Their love which would never be written in bards
Which even Adam and Eve were envious of
Tears flowed through their eyes
The hairs on his body stood up
And he noticed that his tree bark cloth did too
They felt themselves growing hot
As light from their bodies
Converged between them
Like a divine vision
For they knew that they could not be together in this mortal world
Filled with hate and disgust
Which would not understand their love
So they stepped into the vision hand in hand
Into a new world
Where nothing but
Love wins
