By: Dr. Archan Mehta
____
Poem: A Poet’s Journey?
The poet is a hero
Who celebrates heroism alone.
The poet does not need a
Round of applause or
A show of support
From any audience.
Alone, the poet moves forward
Despite crowds who try
To pull him down and reduce
Him to the lowest common
Denominators of society.
Meanwhile, the mobs threaten
To tear the poet apart from
Limb to limb, their cherished goal.
But the poet is above
And beyond politics, etc.
The poet does not care
About naysayers, critics and doubters.
The poet follows his passion alone
And pursues a lofty but lonely vision,
Which only he understands and appreciates.
Alone, the poet takes the bull by the
Horns to create a better world,
But the poet is surrounded by
People who are unwilling and/or
Unable to change.
The poet is blocked by a
System which is aligned
Against him; a structure that
Cuts into his bones and veins.
Even so, the poet soldiers on
And refuses to return home.
Alone, the poet travels in a zig-zag
Path because the
Straight and narrow path
No longer exists and the
Law of the jungle prevails
Upon our beloved planet earth.
The poet dances in circles alone
But with the help of angels
Who live in heaven.
Alone, the poet encounters opposition
From corrupt officials
Who have a stake in the status quo
And who refuse to budge an inch.
The poet wears old clothes, even
Rags and is penniless like a pauper
Because he is not concerned about
The things of this world but prefers
To be locked away in an alternative
World of soul and heart.
The poet is not interested in
Buying fancy cars and adult toys:
Meaningless, shallow, and futile.
The poet is, after all,
Nubile and fertile.
The poet has no choice
But to withdraw into his
Own shell like a turtle
Who does not want
To face the ugly world.
Thus, the poet escapes
From boys and girls and plays
With feelings, aesthetics, and imagination.
Alone, the poet dances, sings, laughs
And cries, away from
The maddening masses.
For this, the poet has
To suffer through public lashes.
Alone, the poet tries to
Align imagination to reality.
For distributive justice,
For peace and harmony,
To wipe away the tears
Flowing from the eyes of a baby,
To feed the hungry and provide
Shelter to the homeless and to
Provide hope to those who
Suffer from depression and despair.
After all, the poet does not hanker after
Money and what money can buy
Because morality lies
And history sighs, and our
Future dies on planet Earth.
Nature’s lungs can no longer
Breathe due to humanity’s
Ego, selfishness, and greed.
But the poet reveals God’s truth
And is chosen as a messenger
Of our good and dear Lord
For the pen is mightier than the sword!
Dr. Archan Mehta
Archan Mehta has earned a Ph.D. in Management. Currently, Dr. Mehta is a Consultant and Writer based in India who trains clients in Stress Management through the ancient practice of meditation.
Dr. Mehta’s articles and case studies have been featured in HR Future. HR Future is a leading HR magazine based in South Africa, sourced by prestigious ivy league schools in America (USA) like Harvard and Princeton.
In 1990, Dr. Mehta won a national award for a short story in Onlooker Magazine based in Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra, India. The Judge was the late, great Khushwant Singh, India’s celebrated Journalist, Editor, Author, and Columnist.
Dr. Mehta’s works have appeared in numerous publications:
- American Poetry Anthology
- Poets United to Advance the Arts
- The Times of India
- The Indian Express
- Mid-Day
- HR Future, Business Manager
- India Today
- Sportsweek
- The Statesman
- Ahmedabad Mirror
- All India Management Association
- People Matters
- Anglo-Welsh Poetry Society: “Borderlines”
- Society for Human Resource Management
- Onlooker
Dr. Mehta is a member of several professional organizations, such as Society for Human Resource Management, Indian Society for Training and Development, Academy of HRD, Rural Marketing Association of India, Ahmedabad Management Association, Human Resource Association of India, Society for Applied Behavioral Sciences, National HRD Network and All India Management Association.
Dr. Mehta likes to stroll outdoors, listen to music, party with close friends, and read in his free time.
Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com or through LinkedIn.
It’s Your Turn to Submit
Are you ready to inspire and enchant us with your poetry? Do you have problem-solving tips for writers and bloggers? Then we’d love a submission from you.
I write my own poetry everyday, yet recently I have been plagued with a cranky back, , making it difficult for me to sit up. I have considered the cause of my discomfort, cultural stress. Having read this poignant poem I am affirmed at the burden we poets do carry. Your poem is truthful, and exquisitely written. It speaks to the tribe of poets who speak from the heart. I thank you, and I thank G-D for allowing my eyes to have scrolled upon your wisdom.