Daily Prompt : Soil, A poem posted by Ranu, written by Sir Walter Scott

In response to daily post’s prompt : Soil

This is a poem written by Sir Walter Scott:

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,

Who never to himself hath said,

This is my own my native land!

Whose heart hath never within him burn’d,

As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,

From wondering on a foreign strand!

If such there breathe,  go, mark him well,

For him no minstrel raptures swell;

High though his titles, proud his name,

Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;

Despite those titles, power and pelf,

The wretch concentrated all in self,

Living, shall forfeit fair renown,

And, doubly dying, shall go down

To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,

Unwept, unhonour’d, and unsung.

………………………………………

 

365 Writing prompts: A plot of earth

You’re given a plot of land and have the financial resources to do what you please. What’s the plan?

As far as I can remember I’ve already written what I plan to do with it. It was in prose form, let me try to write a poem using this same prompt.

“A Plot Of Land”

A plot of land I’m getting for free,

What will I do can you help me .

Can I build a house for a louse

Or give some to the shepherd

For his cattle and his leopard.

None of my choices

Are good for all those voices.

I will sit on my chair and think

I will make sure I have

My pen and my ink.

While you all wait and sit

by the side of my gate! ):

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/365-writing-pr…-plot-of-earth/

 

365 Writing Prompts: Fly on the wall

If you could be a “fly on the wall” anywhere at any time in history, where and when would you choose?

“Fly on the wall”, I would love to be at the time of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor in India.

Bahadur Shah Zafar  was the last of the mughal Emperors. He was an emperor at a time when the condition of the country was at its lowest ebb. His last days in his beloved land was difficult. He was accused of killing European women and children.There were charges laid against him which it was claimed would last till the world lasted.

He was frail and gaunt when he was threatened he’d be killed if he tried to escape. The Mughal emperor came out from the resting place of his ancestor after a long wait, one of unimaginable tragedy, hardship and humiliation.

I would like to be a fly on the wall when Bahadur Shah Zafar came to court at 11 am with his lawyer. How he tried to explain by hand gestures and his voice to impress the court of his innocence. It didn’t work, he was exiled to Rangoon now known as Myanmar.

He was a poet and spent his time writing poetry. One of the ones I liked was the one he wrote while he was in exile the following is the English translation  from Urdu:

I had requested for a long life, a life of four days, two passed by in pining, and two in waiting.

How unlucky is Zafar ! he couldn’t get two yards of land in his beloved land.

My life has no ray nof light , I bring no solace to heart or eye, out of dust again, I am of no use to anyone.

I came to the world what did I see ? whatever it was it was like a dream. Man is moulded from clay but I saw him as a bubble of water!

Here is the song posted by me, Ranu.

 

Life’s Journey by Tagore Translation by ranu

Life’s Journey     Rabindranath Tagore

Your journey is beginning.     Mine is ending.

You and I together will flow on forever.

Your light is shining, you have a companion.

I have the night before me.   The stars are shining above me.

Your journey is beginning. Mine is ending.

You are on land.     I am in the water.

You are sitting calmly.    I am restless and moving.

Your hand is young and strong.   My hand is old and rusty.

In your mind you are fearful.     I am free from fear.

Your journey is beginning.  Mine is ending.

You and I together will flow on forever.