Boad Ride Across The Ganges

Part I

From the famed Darbhanga House Ghat-
Reminiscent of a rich King's donations;
From whence, as the legends say
Two thousand and more years ago
Sanghamitra left for LAnka,
The land of Patliputra;
Shrunk today in a small posh colony
Detached from the Ganges-
Distancing itself:
Amidst expanding dimensions of Patna!

Part II

Foul water, no more blue;
But stale grey.
Denying the once famed medicated waters.
No dolphins show themselves:
They are safe(?) in lone sanctuary
Many miles downstream.

Part III

A skull shows through water,
Long strands of hair:
Neatly detached
Through a sharp cutlass;
Missing lower jaws.

Part IV

A newspaper story of recent past
Flashed through conscience immediately-
'Eighty-eight skulls seized, from
Ticket Collector's Office, at Patna Station;
No claimant.'

Part V

We sailed past,
Apparently ignoring the sighting.
I only hoped in my mind, fervently:
"Those eighty-eight skulls
Were dead
Before being detached.."

Dated: 24 November,2011