…the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle’s to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
Robert Browning
Fear no Death
Imagin’d not the loss you felt in grave
Thought ere long the gain you capitalized!
He put you in a dark cell; bearded in spirit
Brittle physique yielded to oppression
With tooth squeezed taut, pledged in
Sucker of blood; amassed pearls and pets
Browbeat the feeble; sweat counted
Umpteenth time –
Despoiled, he harried the harassed lot!
Bled within, you were born not for crass
Unhonoured, you heard the wave of blood
Flowed in vein –
The cry of it made you hard like stone
Brain brawned in bloodbath he sucked
Thought and thew vowed not to be fettered
Gagged you nude, will power decayed not
Puffed up ego hang on hope…
He failed to stifle the dream
It was a fueled spirit; undaunted
Lived in lusty greed of human joy
©Basudev Paul
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