Poetry In Village Market

By pkroutray

Fri, 21 Mar 2014

P K Routray

To day

It is world poetry day.

Brought up as an Indian village boy

my heartfelt feelings I submit to say.

In my childhood days in a weekly market

where people of either sex from far and wide congregate

to sell and purchase their commodity for the week,

some sell small poem books singing the verses in their style unique

accompanied by music from harmonium hanging on their shoulders

with display of arts depicting the poetry to attract the readers

The poems are generally on a current topic of interest

on a true happening in the society but not suiting to its taste.

The poetry dazzled on the original and natural oral tone

in symphony with music, dance and arts in poster form.

The hustle bustle and the maddening crowd had the least effect

rather it added flavor to the color of the crowd in the market.

The days have gone with occasional much publicized poets’ meet

where attention is focused on ostentatious show poetry takes a back seat.

Budding talents or hidden talents get hardly any scope.

Dead are those small publishers, singers, dancers artist helping those booklets with no future hope.

They say, the poetry has marched with time and wisdom

But man has larger tension and worries and to them poetry has lost its pleasing form

From the modern age poetry common man fails to decipher and derive pleasure.

In heart of my heart for that book in village market costing less than a penny I long for.

(N.B 21st March to day is World Poetry day. This poem has addressed some aspects of the theme of the day by UNESCO)