Banjara
written by: Anushka Chauhan
All the pomp and show will be left behind
When the Banjara walks, a stranger to extravagance,
His shoulders burdened with the weight of a world unseen,
While the forests whisper secrets only he understands,
His heart is heavy with the rhythm of the night,
Yet light as the dreams that drift like smoke into the stars.
What purpose does the gaudy display serve
When hunger gnaws and thirst claims its due
In the silence of the wilderness, where truth lies bare?
Not a thread of silk nor a diamond’s cruel gleam
Will comfort you in the presence of your ancestors,
Who knew no grandiosity, only the earth’s embrace.
What is home, truly? A mere structure of wood and stone,
Or the warmth of shared laughter echoing in the dark?
Can the façade of opulence provide solace
When the heart beats in a language of longing,
Yearning for that which has been stripped away,
The essence of existence hidden beneath layers of paint?
Ah! The curtains may drift, the floors may shine,
Yet what if the bed, in splendid crimson,
Holds none but a hollow promise?
A palace adorned with colors so loud,
Yet muted in the shadows of truth and despair.
All the pomp and show will be left behind
When the Banjara, undaunted, moves with his load,
Carrying tales of freedom, a legacy unsung..!!
