Killing Siddharta

There was once a renowned prince,
Who was so moved by the four sights
He renounced all material desires
In search of truth.

I too had a Princely heart like him,
In anguish I would move to tears.
There were sleepless nights
And a burning desire
To find the truth -
But I killed Siddharta.

He wished to lend a hand,
To the needy.
But I chopped off the will.
He spoke of the soul,
I introduced him color.
There were deceased pleading for a shoulder,
I resisted to get out of the blanket.
There was food enough to share
I opted to hoard.
He opened the windows,
I looked into the mirror.
There were virtues which he gathered
I kept my vices close.
And there were prayers which kept him calm,
I was least bothered.
He offered slippers,
I threw the empty bottles.
He chose to be close,
I stayed distant.

There was a constant conflict
And both of us were tired.
Even a morsel was enough for him,
I longed for riches,
Wished for more power.
There was still time I said
And put him to sleep.
In the dungeons of a cold heart
His screams to be unheard,
He was blindfolded,
And deprived of feelings -
He uttered ‘I can’t breathe’
But now it was too late.

Lockdown

Seldom there were footsteps,
Only gurgling gutters.
It was a long day
Pathways deserted,
The sparrows were no longer intimidated,
No hands to swat the bees,
Stones no longer hurled at the stray,
It was a spring like never before.

There was a fear,
Smiles were forced.
Inbox flooded with messages,
It seemed everything was falling apart-
It was a panic.

A generation was still alive,
That stood the test of times.
Now endangered by a new virus -
They had faced the wars,
Were witness to the worst catastrophe,
And yet another confrontation.

Humanity could never dodge the death,
But there was a hope,
That this too shall pass.
A story to recite,
History just for the records and
A new beginning was
Waiting somewhere around the corner.