…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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