The town grew richer in councils, its riches withered awayโ
Magic turned to memorandums, miracles withered away!
A friend joined a monastery, with investors backing him:
Soon he founded Nirvanaโthe monkhood withered away!
If you insist, I’ll take the tablets, only if you spare my painโ
For I have been living on it, since the basil withered away!
A philosopher told me over tea, “burning refines the soul”โ
It burned, but before refinement, the biscuit withered away!
The saint forgave the world in public, saving grudges for homeโ
The night lightning struck his thatch, scriptures withered away!
I told someone to not argue, Safarโeven marble has its flawsโ
Alas, the jury loved sculptures: dreams of justice withered away!
Photograph Courtesy: Eason Fong, Pixabay.
Arup K. Chatterjee 