English Literature – Poetry ☆ After I’m Gone… ☆ Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ☆

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi —an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as a Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. He was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.

We present Capt. Pravin Raghuvanshi ji’s amazing poem “~ After I’m Gone… ~”.  We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji (who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages) and his artwork.) 

~ After I’m Gone… ~ 

☆

When I’m gone, who’ll claim my

prayer mat’s solace?

In the wilderness, no void will remain,

my absence a solemn place

 *

The sword of cruelty that you

wielded against me,

Will find no other heart to bleed, no

other soul to set free

 *

You didn’t even bother to recall my

memory after I was gone

Yet, you complained to my enemies,

a heartless gesture, a hollow tone

 *

The market of love flourishes

only because of me,

For who would believe in loyalty,

if not for my legacy?

 *

With rose petals shrouding my face,

nightingales will sing their dirge,

The morning breeze will scatter dust,

a melancholy will emerge

 *

I tore the clothes in great anguish,

a tethered soul, torn apart,

Lest no one unfasten your buttons, a

gesture that’d shatter my heart

 *

She may adorn her hands with henna,

With a smile on her face,

But its crimson hue will bring tears,

a sorrowful, haunting pace

 *

I departed the garden, after the

flowers wilted and fell apart

Once I’m gone, why should I bother

if flowers bloom or break heart

 *

I was the morning’s earliest visitor

in the garden, the gentlest soul,

Zephyr’s whispers came in thereafter

Once I played my hearty role

 *

Who’ll stroll through its flowery

paths, after I’m gone?

Will anyone cherish its beauty,

or sing the songs, alone?

 *

Your visit to my home, upon hearing

the news of my demise,

Proved my steadfast loyalty, as you

also honoured your promise

 *

My killer, so ashamed now, laid

down the dagger’s blade,

A lesson learned, a price paid, in the

gory silence that’s made

 *

My melodies gave life to the

garden’s throbbing heart,

The hunter freed all the birds, as

they flew off to a new start

 *

I, a fool, entangled in her tresses,

a captive of insane love,

No other soul will ever fall prey,

to her charms sent from above

 *

You may take my life, but lasting

regret will be your guide,

For none like me, devoted to love,

will ever come, in your life

 *

The morning breeze brought rose

petals to my resting place,

A final farewell, a last goodbye,

in the silent soulful space

 *

In the gatherings, when my name

is whispered or called loud,

A teardrop will fall from your eyes,

a guiltful sorrow that will shroud

 *

In the execution yard, I pondered

with an anguished sigh,

Who’ll be the next to meet his fate,

like this and wonder why?

 *

Our bond was built on trust, on

the love’s purest flame,

Forget me, don’t recall, when I’m gone,

Afterall, it’s just a divine game

☆

~Pravin Raghuvanshi

 © Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM