Before me two roads diverged

One was visible to an extent

And other was metalled

And well maintained.

Jernail S. Anand, an eminent poet from India, shares his poem

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, based in Chandigarh, is an Indian poet and scholar credited with 170 plus books of English literature, philosophy and spirituality. He won great Serbian Award Charter of Morava and his name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. He was honored with Seneca Award LAUDIS CHARTA by Academy of Arts & Philosophical Sciences, Bari, Italy 2024. He is Founder President of the International Academy of Ethics and conferred Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) by University of Engineering & Management, (UEM) Jaipur. Email anandjs55@yahoo.com 

THE FORKED PAIR

Before me two roads diverged

One was visible to an extent

And other was metalled

And well maintained.

The one that was passing through

Fields of mustard

Had trees on either side

Hailing beautiful voices

When I touched the stems

A living impulse

Crossed my whole being

Through my bones deep to my soul.

The worried self that I carried

Appeared to lose its burdens

And felt carried away

By the easy winds

One day, I thought

Let me digress towards

The metalled road

For a stroll.

There were electric poles

Symmetrically arranged,

Over which some birds

Hovered in great scare

Some people with mobiles

Passed by me

Never taking a glance

As if in a trance

Cars passed by blaring their horns

Conveying men and women

To restaurants

For artificial pleasures.

Tired and broken minds

Need toxic treatment

For their splintered psyches

And this metalled road offers them thrills.

But I love the road

Lined with trees

Chirped above by birds

Going into the heart of the Unknown.

________________ 

Read: The Money Maker – Mystic Poetry from India