19-the muse

t was a social gathering….. students of std 10th, and the entire staff, that had taught them….the batch that was to pass out…..a farewell party….as part of the entertainment programme,there was this bright idea the kids had….target some of their teachers…all in gud spirit ofcourse…they knew full well, who cud be slammed with what……..so there was deby’s turn……the announcement floated across the hall….
“Language”, they said,” is a tool……ur skill in wielding it is an art…..and i am going to see to it that each one of u is a master at the art, before u leave frm here…..”…..now i guessed somewhat, what was coming…..these were my words they were repeating……”well, we present to you, the mistress of the art….Ma’am Deby…….she will speak to us……..on one of our most favourite topics, ….THE MUSE……”……..in the course of teaching language, these things r quite common……greek mythology, shakespearean poems, etc…..and i used to make them come up front and speak on the given topic…..part of the programme of the development of language skills….so now, this was their chance….”the topic will be THE MUSE….she will speak till we say STOP……extempore ofcourse…..and Ma’am there’s got to be loads of ROMANCE in it…….so here’s presenting…..Ma’am Deby…..
So there i was …escorted to the stage…a mike thrust into my hand…..and 180 odd students and 60 odd co-leagues, looking on…..the thing was getting video-recorded……so then, there was no escape…so i waxed eloquent….waiting every moment for the golden word…STOP….which never came..


there was this muse…
the goddess of poetry…
the goddess of music…
the goddess of beauty…

there was beauty
in her words…
in her thoughts…
in her heart…

her quiet, calm gaze…..
putting the devil to shame…..
coz in her crystal, clear eyes..
did the wretch see his ugliness bare…

Radiant as the stars….
flitting about
in a garden…
that was her Eden…
birds a-chirping….
the branches swaying…..
the breeze wafting……
playfully her tresses carressing….
flowers of every hue…
beaming frm end to end…..
the Gods looking down….
enviously smiling……
Such was the aura
she radiated…

But alas……
alas the muse was silent……
her eyes searching…..
hither- thither….
she looked….
listened…..
to evry sound her ears a-tuned….
trying to smell every wave ..
of the breeze that gently passed her by..
she looked skyward…
she looked into the waters deep….
alas…alas, her heart spake…..
what searchest thou…..
this is Eden u r in,
which even the Gods envy…
so why art thou sad..????

there’s something missing somewhere..
something close to her heart…
that longing…
that burning desire within her..
which none so ever cud quench…
shadows flitted by…
footsteps advancing…
soft murmurs…
alas..but that other ,that her heart yearned for…..
where was that other soul……
that seemed to be lost somewhere……
that Someone Somewhere…
that other half that cud make her feel complete…..
that whose absence wrenched her heart…..
as though it were torn into two….

Tired , she lay down…
under the greenwood tree…..
sleep played on her eyelids..
making them heavy…
and she fell into deep slumber…

Then it was he came…
slow….soft……footsteps….
his fragrance hit her breath,
her lips parted…in a smile…..
His gaze rested on her face….
drinking in the soft beauty of that muse..
lightly….ever so lightly…
with a finger…
he pushed aside a strand of her hair…
the back of his hand..
gently carressing her ever so soft cheeks…

she opened her eyes…
gazing into the deepest eyes,
she’d ever seen…
they fathomed her soul…
her heart skipped a beat….
his warm breath upon hers…
breathing her name….
in that moment….
looking into his eyes…
she saw her heaven…….
just as he did, his, in hers…
he clasped her ever so warmly
in his arms
at last….at last…
her heart against his…
beating as one…
he put his hands forth as if to fly..
and so did she….
their wings spread of their own accord….
the breeze gave them lift…
the flowers danced…and smiled ever so gaily…
they rose into the skies…
angels played their harp….
sitting atop the clouds…
and they flew…..
with the wind they flew…
against the wind they flew…
they somersaulted in the sky….
the heavens were their playfield…

Faster and faster beat her heart…
and his throbbed along with hers..
here was her God…
here was the other half…
of her soul, that was one half…

She adored him….
she loved him…
she trusted him…..
her heart sang with him….
her heart danced with him..

the fire that threatened to burn her…
at last it glowed from within her..
with its warmth
touching her face and his…..
touching them all over…
they were thus one..
consumed by the fire that burnt within them…
thus wud they glow till eternity…
as stars in the night sky….
as stars in the night sky…
as stars in the night sky……

to my utter relief….finally……from across the hall…first a slow rhythmatic clap…. in unison….
and then rising to a crescendo……the students had finally put their teacher to test…..and here they were…..declaring the result…..