If you say Wah! Wah! To everything I do
even though I like to hear it
but fear of long dark hands of ‘wah wah’
that may drag me
down and down.
Still at times being undetected
that shapeless thirst grabs me
at the dark of shadows
instigating me to hear and record
all what you say
to drink it later
and to relish it at my leisure.
If you rarely even say ‘wah! wah!’ to me
when we meet at our office canteen
or at the suburb market
I wish to offer you a tea
or a sugarcane stick
expecting – eventually you will be pleased
so that a ‘wah’ will escape
through your front two teeth
during your unending chats.
If you neither say ‘wah! wah!’ nor
you visibly avoid me
I encircle you with hope
wearing red shirts and escorting you
through shopping malls
expecting one ‘wah!’ at least will drop off
your mouth
before you reach your home.
If you ruthlessly say ‘NO’ to tell me
‘wah! wah!
should I feel wrong of my followings,
feel ashamed or curse my fate
to count the coins left in my purse!
I will ask myself why did you say ‘no’
to understand how
I lost myself to my village banyan tree,
why
I can only purchase dry oranges in suburb market
and
to loose all - for the torn bag I have,
the way
the plasters fell off my walls
at the whispers of my neigbours!
***
Hrushikesha Mohanty
7th March 2009.
7 comments:
No words to say !!!.
Its not saying 'NO' to say Wah! Wah!.
Dear Sir
From what I understand from the poem, it is directed at some specific people?
I have seen (in dramas, movies), heard (from the people), read (in stories, articles) that the NAWABS, (particularly lakhnavi Nawabs) are alwas surrounded by a group of people. The Nawab will recite his shayaree (peom in urdu) and expect them to say "Wah! Wah!". Also these people who's job is only to please the Nawab in return for favours as money and food, will always try to please him with their "Wah Wahs".
On this I have written two lines in Hindi:
Usney jab sher sunaaya
to main bol uttha WAH WAH
Doosron ko khush karnaa
bus yahee hai mari chaah.
The meaning of the above is:
When he recited his shayaree
I said Wah Wah
To please others
is only my desire.
Sir, I know that you are not a Nawab to be pleased simply by Wah Wah.
Also you will know the truth behind sombody's Wah Wah.
Generally speaking, ofcourse, everybody likes to hear
Wah Wah
from others.
I can hear Wah-Wah for me. Ha haa.
C.K. Rajendran
Received by email ........
Wah! Wah! for your zeal and spirit. Keep it up.
GPB
Received by email
I am happy to read the poem "wah wah". It deserves "wah wah". It really
makes good sense if poet has no "thirst" for it. When there is no
thirst, there is real "wah wah".
Warm regards,
R.C.Pradhan
Received by email .......
The first stanza gave me the impression that you did not want unqualified appreciation for your effirts but critical acclaim. Pointing out what does not strike me as right and appreciating what I consider well put. However this ex;expectation did not come through in your latter stanzas. It gives the impression that you want appreciation from every one at any cost. Somehow that does not seem ok to me. Perhaps if a teenager said it, that would be understandable, because he/she could be going through a ;phase where they are unsure of themselves and are looking for approval.
Anonymous
If you say Wah! Wah! To everything I do
even though I like to hear it
but fear of long dark hands of ‘wah wah’
that may drag me
down and down.
----
greatly composed.
With my limited knowledge and appreciation for poetry I could really understand to some extent and appreciate this particular poem of yours. Hrushida this one according to me deserves the Wah, Wah... looking forward to more such light spirited poems.
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