WHERE SHALL I GO! - Bishnupada Sethi

[Stories and Poetry from the Room of IAS Officers]

By this moonlit night,

as you hold my hand

and sprinkle over me with your soft words,

your love rekindles my heart

and I feel sublime

(“Ageless Time & We”)

Bishnupada Sethi: Received his professional education from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela in the branch of Mechanical Engineering and then master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai, India. He joined the Indian Administrative Service and worked in different posts. He also worked for the United Nations Development Programme. Presently, he is posted as the Principal Secretary, Revenue & DM Department/ Odia Language, Literature & Culture Dept., Govt. of Odisha.

There is more chill

In the air than usual.

The night appeared heavier.

Though thenearby landmass was duty bound

To cool the heated sea

But the rule here is broken.

The gush of sea breeze

Blows over the heaps of blazing wooden logs.

The sands have darkened, where

I searched for the dreams of my ancestors

Within those tiny fine charcoals

And the moisture in the air.

We carried here last of his things

Including the body he was covered with.

Nothing will be taken back from here

Except few confusing beliefs and fond memories.

I looked back

For the last time

As I prepared to leave.

The sky above,

The thundering sea,

The forgetful mortal beings

Hardly gave any convincing reason

To believe-

If I am anything or

What I claim myself to be.

Few more wailing people join

Crowding the place.

The focus of attention changes place.

No one asks and remembers-

Who came,

Who went away.

The identity is reduced to few

Mere ashes,

Few charcoal

Without the names-

All lie scattered.

[He Exists - Bishnupada Sethi]

I was feeling hurt

Bullied, desolate and bereft-

Sobbingly, I looked out

For those firm hands,

A masterly voice

And for drawing solace.

Travelling bare feet

Withstanding hot sand and Sun

Before I could give up

He would lift me on his shoulder,

The mightiest and strongest of the men-

I would've nothing to fear.

Many of the storms I weathered

Hardly left a scratch mark-

I saw the nature's fury

Ravishing everything

Ruining man's pride,

Yet I had sound sleep

No worry in the mind.

I don't remember any great pain I'd

Of hunger, thirst or fever.

The stout hands cared-

The love was unconditional

Enveloping my world.

Decades later, now

Upon hearing something unpleasant

Or at irregular times

I would hear the same voice feeble though-

"There's nothing to worry my son

For there's God

He has His hands upon you

Like I held your hands once

And He knows His job well.

Never to feel low

Or let down

Have your faith on Him

Trust me He exists

Nothing could be there

Without His wish."

[Here Is A Message - Bishnupada Sethi]

There is certain silence in the air

Broken by the incessant rain drops

On the roof tops and the tree branches.

The coolness wafted by the breeze

Doesn't rupture the silence in the hall.

The music of rain goes on

In perfect rhymes and volume.

The voices here have gone mute.

The focus of attention drifts

From the music of nature around

To the celebrations and events

Of the past.

Why do untimely events take place?

Why did the dark clouds descend