Through a Narrow Pipe

 

Why should I look at a tree

Through colored glass?

I won’t!

Don’t make me do it;

Please don’t!

I would like to see the beauty of a tree

As it really is! Wouldn’t you?

Should I look at Mount Everest

Through a narrow pipe?

I won’t!

Don’t compel me to do it.

Please don’t!

I want to see the beauty of the snow peak

In its fullness! Don’t you?

I’d love to appreciate the workmanship

That is treasured in birds and butterflies

In the flowers and the stars;

The craftsmen and their creations

The masons and the monuments

They gave shape to! Wouldn’t you?

You want to rage the monuments

Because it was built by someone you dislike

Because you hate the concept it was born in

You detest the period of history when

It was formed?

You want to erase what time has engraved?

You want to compel me to agree. You can’t!

Let me alone, O Narrowness,

I am a free spirit flying over the universe

No cage can enslave me

An angel to sing of beauty and truth

And of goodness, reflected and radiated

All around the creation

We can all see. Can’t you?

Xavier Bage

Fri, Oct 27, 2017

Me and My Earphones

I plug my ears with earphones

And instantly I am in another planet

The noises of this world vanish that moment

And the people turn into soundless images

of the films of silent era.

Let people around me quarrel

Yelling at their highest pitch

Let  aeroplanes fly over my head roaring

Or let mad  cars screech by grazing

I’ll sway on my seat and move my head with rhythm

So polluted is the air around me

Colored goggles protect my precious eyes

My ears I plug with earphones

To dispel decibels far from my private planet

And stay healthy in ears and eyes all my life

Now, a garlanded picture on the wall I am

Without my earphones, how strange I feel!

All sounds are transformed into severe silence

And noisy people appear less than shadows to my eyes

How this drastic mutation,  I don't comprehend!!!

Xavier Bage

Wed, Oct 25, 2017

A Man of Clay

He doesn’t sit on a golden throne

He doesn’t possess a kingdom to rule

He doesn’t live in a palace

neither does he command any army

nor keeps servants to do his bidding

He is brave but he does not carry arms

To battlefields against his enemies

Yet, he is similar to the great David

the glorious king, chosen by God

in more ways than one!

He was born in a humble village

Son of a farmer and keeper of animals

Called by God to serve Him

He trusted in Him in all that he did

He was a musician like David

He composed psalms and songs to glorify God

Played stringed instruments

in His praise and danced in joy

for the Creator  he knew  so closely

He trusted in Him like a child,

who trusts his loving father.

And like a true human being

made of degradable flesh and bones

he saw a voluptuous body

and desired her in lust.

Oh, the clay that we are built of!

However vehemently we try to deny

Aren’t we fallible?

Statues made of clay break into pieces

whenever they fall to the floor.

Though a man of faith;

though he loved God with all his heart

like David he fell too

And like David he cried,

“Have mercy on me O Lord, have mercy!”

Like the shepherd king

He was a man made of clay!

Xavier Bage

Sun, Oct 22, 2017

Why Doesn't the Darkness Dissipate?

We lighted ten million lamps

But the darkness refused to dissipate

Because we wanted it to stay here

We have submitted to its rule

A part of our heart and life.

We have allowed it

to establish its kingdom

to build a throne of majesty;

we have built him a palace to live in

we love its power to control our acts.

Nay, we have made a god of it

We have made its statue, imposing

With blood-thirsty weapons in its hands

Placed it on a high pedestal, a holy platform

And we prostrate ourselves before the idol!

Let’s celebrate Diwali with noise and smog

Light the fireworks for the pleasure of it

Let the lamps hide the dark we adore

The naked dance of hypocrisy the prostitute

We cannot do without. So, let’s just celebrate!

Xavier Bage

Fri, Oct 20, 2017