Pilgrim by Ajanta Paul
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| Image | Stefan Stefancik |
Pilgrim
He travels light, his whole life
rolled into a cloth sling bag,
barefoot and bereft of boons.
He carries an atlas of dreams
within him, vast seascapes
of river meeting ocean
where he hopes to perform
penance in the estuary
of old age. Sluggish tides
pull at his body as the
hardened soles of his feet
test the lap of water.
His pilgrimage has brought him
far into the cold, gusty border
of river and sea, white and grey.
The almanac in his soul
flutters open to the leaf
of a holy day of ritual baths.
He takes a dip in the currents
and feels his burdens
flowing away from him.
He is lighter than when
he had started out,
his eyes, wise beyond their light.
© Ajanta Paul
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| Ajanta Paul Ajanta Paul is a widely published poet, short story writer, and literary critic. He was a former Principal of Women's Christian College, Kolkata. A Pushcart nominee, Ajanta has been published in literary journals including Capella Biannual Journal, Offcourse, The Statesman, The Wild Word, Atticus Review, and Spadina Literary Review. |
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