<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=564841" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>My Claim To Honour!</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">I’d been thinking<br> To be a very great man, <br> My attribute being poetry, <br> And my poems highly rated.<br>I had genuinely believed<br> That poetry is great gift, <br> Poet is a superman <br> And he was venerated.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I had discontentment<br> That I didn’t get the credit<br> Which I truly deserved<br> For my superior poetry.<br>Poets much junior<br> And close to political bosses<br> Got awards and honours. <br> For, they wrote base flattery.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So, when I died I wrote<br> An elegy on myself, <br> A long narrative poem, <br> Superb in its contents.<br>Carrying my dead body <br> I went around the city<br> Reciting my elegy<br> To my heart’s full content.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">From gate to gate I moved <br> From street to street I went</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> At road junctions I stopped, <br> To drum up support in my favour.<br>I was firm in my resolve <br> To get my rightful honour <br>Which the state had for long<br>Overlooked to confer.<br> <br>Sans any modesty <br>My elegy compared me<br>With many other poets<br>And stated my claim.<br>The elegy eulogized<br>And compared my talents, <br>Exalted my skills, <br> And extolled me to the brim.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“…………………………………………………..<br>Internatio nal poet …………………………….<br>……. Multilingual Poet ……………………..<br>…………….. Mystic, epic poet ………………<br>……………………. People’s eternal poet… <br>……………………………………………………<br>“In the untimely demise<br>Of this truly great genius, <br>An irreplaceable asset<br>The country has lost …”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I strongly recommended<br>To embalm my body<br>And preserve it well<br>In a befitting memorial! </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And stoutly stated that <br>My body deserves to become<br>A global exhibit.<br>So, it’s foolish to do burial.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I told the spectators <br>That future generation <br>Will not brook the failure<br>To preserve this poet’s body.<br>This will indeed become <br>A tourist attraction<br>And a topic of research<br> For those in higher study.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">People mostly ignored <br>None had time to listen, <br>with their own weight to carry<br> And wail of woes to recite. <br>Some mistook me as ghost. <br>They raised alarm and fled.<br>Ladies slammed their doors.<br> Urchins followed with delight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A few said “schizophrenia”.<br> The kind said “poor man’s corpse<br>With no money for burial”<br> And offered alms in cash! </div><div style="margin:10px 0">One let loose his dogs.<br> I ran with the load on head.<br>The urchins came to my rescue<br> Stopped the dogs with lash.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A scientist followed saying<br> “It’s an unusual phenomenon<br>To carry one’s own corpse.<br>A big case for research! ”<br>“Poor scientist! ”, I said, <br> “A poet’s ingenuity <br>Is beyond the scope of research<br> My realm you can’t reach”.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Jeering crowd couldn’t stop <br> My mission to assert myself <br>I went afar with the corpse<br> Singing and speaking aloud.<br>Determination impelled.<br> Ridicules couldn’t deter. <br>I talked to many a man, <br> While most tried to elude.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">My wife and children came <br>Running to me and said: <br>“Your act is ridiculous<br> Money alone makes man great.”<br>I didn’t listen to them.<br> I said I deserve honour<br> For my fight against the unjust <br> And the great poetry I wrote.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At last came a trader.<br>Evinced interest. Asked: <br>“What is it all about? <br>Is it new ad for a trade? <br>“What’s this new product? <br>Is this a sample piece? <br>What’s your selling price? <br>Is it locally made? ”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“It’s a poet’s body.<br>One and the only piece.<br>Very special creation.<br>Invaluable indeed.<br>Spend a million dollars<br>Embalm it and display.<br>Viewing fees yearly <br>Could exceed tenfold”</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> “Poet? What’s that thing? <br> Is it human or beast? <br> In shape it looks human. <br> I buy human corpse.<br>That’s one of my trades.<br> I harvest and sell organs.<br>Act fast if it is human<br> Time you shouldn’t lose.”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I couldn’t control rage. <br> “Unlearned man”, I said <br>` “Dogs prefer stool to diamonds.<br> You flesh merchant, get lost! ”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The trader retorted<br>“Foolish dreamer, you<br>Don’t know the worth of money! ”<br>He spat in my face and left.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">An old religious leader<br>Heard my talk and stopped.<br>He understood my claim<br>And then, gently said: <br>“Vyasa and Valmiki <br>wrote enough of poems, <br>which, for many millennia<br>All of us can read. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Till now I haven’t read<br>Even a half of their works.<br>The same is the case <br>With every learned priest.<br>Hardly has any laity<br>Ever opened those books. <br>Then where is really the need <br>For more poems or poet? </div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Embalming? We didn’t do <br>Even of great Vyasa’s body. <br>How will then we embalm<br>a minor poet’s corpse? <br>It makes good sense to bury<br>Both, the body and your poems.” <br>Saying much to my dislike<br>The priest slid back to his course.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Inwardly I rebuked <br>The fat religious leader<br>And went ahead undeterred<br>To realize what I wanted.<br>The next to look at me<br> Was an English language scholar.<br>Hopefully I called him<br>And my case I recounted.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">He heard and sympathized, <br>Looked at me with pity, <br> Took my hand in his, <br>Heaved a sigh and said: <br>“Your claim is reasonable. <br> My good wishes to you.<br> Owing to lack of time<br> I can’t help dear bard. </div><div style="margin:10px 0"> “I’m a Shakespearian <br>I did research on him, <br>The self-styled litterateur<br> And arrogant versifier.<br>He’s been keeping me <br>Burdened all the time<br> As I do reviews of<br>Writings on this rhymester.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Honestly I haven’t <br> Read any of your works.<br> Unless there’s pressure<br> Anything I don’t read.<br>Romantic young girls<br> Do read poetry books.<br> Approach some of them”, <br> While leaving, the scholar said.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The next to intercept me<br>Was a local politician. <br>I beseeched him to help<br>As a noble social cause.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Shaking his pot-belly<br>He scornfully laughed at me.<br> For settling old scores<br> He talked in filthy words.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Oh, you dirty pig! <br>The so-called radical<br>Who incited a tirade <br>On senior political leaders! <br>Good, you stinker died<br>Prior to being killed.<br>You acted very smart.<br>I remember your lectures.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Fool! You get buried, <br>Body and soul together.<br>How could you ever expect<br>This state to give you honour! ” <br>As he started his car<br>He spat on my body<br>In the shape of a wreath.<br> It evidenced his culture.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Next I met a poet.<br>He lamented my death.<br>He praised my poems<br> And hugged and kissed my chin.<br>“Why only you? ”, he asked.<br>“All poets have to be embalmed.<br>Go ahead and fight.<br> I’m sure you’ll win! <br> <br>“I can’t join you now<br>My wife’s alone at home.<br>If I return late<br> In high pitch she will yell.<br>She is one person<br>Whom I really fear”<br>The poet said while leaving, <br> “We’ll meet in heaven or hell”.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">All these couldn’t change<br>My firm determination.<br>I went ahead with vigor<br>And steadfast conviction.<br>Amused police said: <br>“For a frugal funeral<br>A good and simple style.<br>We OK this procession! ”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I met the Minister <br>For education and culture, <br>Forced him to hear my elegy<br>And asked for honour by the state.<br>“Sorry, my dear poet, <br>The state has no provision<br> For what you have in mind”<br> He said and left in haste.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">People of all walks of<br> Life and vocations<br> Stopped, watched and heard.<br> None showed any concern.<br> “This is a dementia<br>That afflicts the weak victims<br>Even after death”<br>Was the general conclusion.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">My walk went deep <br>Into the dark lonely night<br>Till I became weary<br>And the body heavier.<br>Refusing to admit<br>Failure of my mission<br>I went to the beach nearby, <br>To stretch out for an hour.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">While in deep slumber<br>An unseen hand awoke me.<br>I saw none around.<br>But heard these soothing words: <br>“God is pleased with your<br> Conviction my boy.<br> You’re selected for <br>The highest of heaven’s awards.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">“Not being a stooge, <br> It’s not easy to get honour<br> In this world mostly<br>Ruled by selfish men.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">God had a purpose in you<br> You lived true to that.<br> You have honoured Him<br> So His honour for you is certain”.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The unseen hand raised me<br> A grave opened in front<br> My dead body fell into it.<br> Soon the grave got closed.<br>The unseen made me sit<br>Saddled firm on his back.<br> Then he rose to the sky<br> And flew fast through the clouds.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Grasping the unseen body<br>I fell asleep again.<br> I woke up to find myself <br>In a scintillating hall.<br>I was bathed and dressed<br> In glittering suit and gown.<br> Noble men and angels<br> Filled the ceremony hall.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">In a resonant voice<br> I heard this announcement: <br> “God is honouring Joy<br> For good work done in the world.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">His tirade against wickedness, <br>And growing inequities, and<br>Pursuit to ennoble men<br> Have greatly pleased the lord.”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Angels came to me<br> And escorted me to God.<br> He rose, embraced me, <br> And seated by His side.<br>A citation was read out<br> That praised me for my work.<br> The way it was written<br> Gave me much delight: </div><div style="margin:10px 0"> “…………………………………………………<br>The creator had a purpose.<br> You lived up to it very well.<br>You obeyed God’s command<br> And honoured Him everywhere.<br>For obeying God’s command<br> Men don’t give you reward.<br> Noble Man’s Award <br> For you by God is here! ” </div><div style="margin:10px 0">God rose from His throne<br> And placed a crown on me<br> Shook my hand and said: <br> “Reward for honouring me”. <br>Fragrant flowers rained, <br> Drums and music rose, <br> Angels danced and sung: <br> “The Lord is honouring thee! ”.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=P.K.+Joy">P.K. Joy</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=564841" data-title="My Claim To Honour! de P.K. Joy" data-description="I’d been thinking To be a very great man, My attribute being poetry, And my poems highly rated. I had genuinely believed That poetry is great gift, Poet is a superman And he was venerated. I had discontentment That I didn’t get t..."></div> </div> </div>

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