King of His Kingdom

... Travel moments ...

Not the cleanest on Indian cities
Even with its claim to the Taj Mahal ...
the very same thought occupied me on my previous visit
... long ago
Agra; on the river Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India

The mornings dense fog mixes
together with the usual polluted haze
acrid aromas envelop every breath
cows uphold their might of the roads

On this day I traverse the Old City
I venture into a streetside eatery
Usually reserved only for locals
I order what was to be the most sumptuous
vegetarian meal from the North

I am struck
by a boy
possessing a smile holding the intensity of the sun
Bilal
Ten years old -
Very little English
His smile ... his presence
lift me far from this back street in the Old City of Agra

Just as he is captivated with my milky white skin
I too have been captivated by his strength of being

I ask his name
I ask his age
I ask if he attends school

The owner of this quasi like eatery overhears

'He does not go to school'. In perfect English
'He has no parents, no family.' Quite matter of fact.

Bilal watches the exchange
I wonder if he notices my sudden shift in emotion

'Where does he live?' I ask
'Here, he sleeps on the floor.'

Bilal continues to steal glances as I eat.
I observe his potent ubiety
For - in the nothing he has
He possesses
A rare and authentic bravura for life
King of his own Kingdom

This makeshift eatery
On a busy backstreet
In the Old City
Of Agra in Uttar Pradesh
Will forever more be to me
The city of Bilal
Who is the only King
I care to meet
in this life that offers everyone their own Kingdom
Yet granted only to a special few

Reviews

[Ashwin Shanker]

cleanest 'on' Indian - shouldn't it be 'of' ?

I feel a bit ashamed when you're having to write 'The Taj Mahal' and 'not clean' on the same stanza. Though you are are right actually, There are piles and piles of dirt just within the vicinity of that Wonder, and it's a social malaise which we are trying hard to tackle.
I like it that you mentioned education of Bilal... Yes... Providing Education for the millions of deserving children is the second biggest problem that we are facing as a country. First being Overpopulation. And the final stanza of Bilal having his kingdom felt really uplifting and a more positive way to look at his situation.
NIce poem.

[KWP]

HEY Thanks for your thoughts. I was in Agra twenty years ago and then again a few years ago, like Varanasi it’s not clean, but getting cleaner. When I was in mumbai I noticed just how much it had been cleaned up - so that’s positive.

When I first arrived in India way back when my Unlce who is Indian called me and said ‘Lizzie, you will either love India or you will hate India 🇮🇳- just accept Inida’ And I do - I love it very much X

[Ashwin Shanker]

I stay in Mumbai, so feel free to visit again and I could take around the best sights and sounds. read moreI stay in Mumbai, so feel free to visit again and I could take around the best sights and sounds.
I am sure you must be aware of how hospitable we are to foreign guests. 'Adithi Devo Bhava' - Is a quote which means, "Guests are akin to God"

[KWP]

Ooh I love that saying - I usually stay in Colaba when I am there in a family apartment where our Aunt and Uncle resided for many many years - now Kumla, the maid lives there and looks after a PG. Kumla speaks not a word of english but has been in the family 40 years or so - she loves it when we come visit - all she wants to do is look after us. Love her. Also have a cousin in Juhu.

I love that saying about guests - beautiful - I am sure to be back there in a year or two - off to South America very soon X

[Sindu]

Bilal seems to have more energy and hope than comfort-filled "happy" living of others. That makes him a ruler. In fast-paced TMI days, we seem to lose this. Amazing insights. About place too.
Too much polluted. Liked this unfolding very much. Great things happen at the simplest settings.

[KWP]

A perfect rendition and am very happy you can see thru the same eyes as myself xxz

[Sindu]

yep like-minded, haha :) I agree with Rene. It is surprising to realise, change comes through acceptance.

[KWP]

Not so surprising when you Learn to accept and let go :-))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we are all rulers of our own little kingdoms...we all own a piece of turf on this earth---Kings and Queens even in what seems a run down, acrid city---we find those who are happy with what little they have, and i wonder why we can't be happy with what we have, when we have so much more.
we never realize how good we have it until we see how little others have.

a really moving poem

[Rene Salinas]

I really like this.

It speaks to me of that handicapped the ones that have "too much" are subject to.

We seem to have so many layers it is truly a mammoth task to get close to one's Self. The aspects of ones own human confuguration that really are imbued to individuality. Which belong to us so to speak. It is not that it is impossible to come to terms with them. Is that we are so full of "the other stuff" we never seem to have time to even identify with it. Yet we bang on about how to be "yourself" & "I'm just me" & "I don't follow, I lead" so many other comments which are based in lustful pride. Yet what if you have very little? There is not a lot of masks that can be used then. Common belief then that people in rural areas are more sincere, more "real" even but I think that is far from it. Acceptance of what you have been given, coming to terms with the positive and negative aspects seem to be conditioned to a life that dissolves through doing for others.

Be it at a hospital, helpdesk, newsagent or a farm. The image of acceptance, and child innocence, purity, poverty of heart so on so forth lead to this:

"A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living."

Rudolf Steiner

Your geographical quest continues KWP.

[KWP]

Thank you for the quote - such a perfect timed set of words for my day :-)

Thank you also for your thoughts - they allow my continual progression forth xxx

[wordman]

the customs in one country does not apply to other countries . I guess they think they done him a favor by letting him sleep in the floor I would be concerned for my life in those places I don`t get to carry a m14
any more lol

[KWP]

Thank you for your interesting perspective Wordman - always good to hear people's opinions xx

[MsJewel]

The images you have created are so very vivid, but more than that is the power of your words...your description of this little boy - "king of his kingdom" - just curls right up in my heart.
Exceptional poetry and such a delight to read.

:) Julie

[KWP]

Ahhh thank you so much for Julie - your thoughts inspire - much love xxx