THE MARKET-PLACE

'Come unto me all ye
that are laden with grief,
for I shall give you
a good rule,' said one.

'Come unto me all ye
that are dulled by dry skin
for I shall give you
a good cream that will
keep you soft and fresh
all day,' said another.

Beneath the drowsy lamp-post
stood a lone girl
that cared not for the good rule
nor for the good cream.
In her tattered frock
she looked for one
who could buy her
for some pelf.

A TRYST WITH DEATH

I heard him jingling the bell
down the corridor,
and with a sigh
I mused over the thigh
of the white maid
as I nodded to the fading knell.

Saline dripped into my vein,
smudgy walls came closer,
and I saw the butterfly
flapping her wings dry
in the pungent air
lulling my benumbed brain.

Tempest

I am a Bengali living in Kolkata. I am sick with the wrongs and outrages with which this goldilock planet is filled. Time has passed into 2007 today, the 1st January. I don't know whether the new year would bring in any good for the people. The world is as ever in a transition. It has travelled about seven thousand years to reach at this stage. Is the civilization changing for the better? I believe so. Despite all the evils around, I believe mankind does take lessons from the history, and someday, may be it may take another seven thousand years, it will reach a world full of peace and happiness. It's a long journey, but humanity will reach it's destination. Do you believe?