Columnists
The Little Teacher
Guru HarKrishan (1656-64)
A Poem by MICHELE GIBSON
There is innocence in air
Never malice or deceit
Air is sustenance to life
Is everywhere, is wanted
But unknowingly becomes fortified
Or callous to its own culpability
Never sensing when it is really poison
*
They knew poison was within them
In the air, in the sheets
But they reached for Him in desperation
For love and consolation
The tiny hands of the suffering, and the dead
Daily parted from the dying
*
He served them
In tiny quarters, in darkened rooms
He answered their needs, their worries freed
Hundreds called His name
Food and blessing, He delivered, one in the same
*
The journey He bravely shouldered
To placate Mughals, to quiet kin,
But He could not reconcile their pain
And so could never leave the dying rows,
Nor could He restore all that living knows
*
Blisters blind them in the final days
To these His voice, to these His hand
To these His love endured, their peace secured,
Meant all the world to know,
And would more gently go
*
But the poisoned air released
A tiny bead, a secret lullaby
It betrayed the Precious Son
His young journey just begun,
Ends by Yamuna, with His most humble seva, done.
December 17, 2009
Conversation about this article
1: Lally K. Mir (Stanford, California, U.S.A.), December 17, 2009, 1:33 PM.
A brilliant description of young HarKrishan's life work. Michele, I am glad you are now venturing into the lives of the other Gurus. I love your insights and your crisp, delicious words.
2: Hardit Singh (New Delhi, India), December 18, 2009, 11:47 AM.
It's odd but we seldom dwell on the life and Guruship of Guru HarKrishan. Thank you for this lovely poem ... it'll play in my mind when I visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib next.
3: Amar Singh (Chandigarh, Punjab), December 18, 2009, 3:27 PM.
Though a Guru for less than three years, and still a child when He left for His heavenly abode, He left a lasting impression on the community. Three and a half centuries later, all one has to do is go to New Delhi and see how much devotion the locals have for His memory today. In many ways, He is a giant amongst our historical figures.
4: Surinder Singh Dardi (Gurgaon, India), December 18, 2009, 3:36 PM.
Thank you for the beautiful poem on Guru HarKrishan Sahib. I've read your other poems as well. Are you planning to publish an anthology of these poems? I hope you will ... I think they'll give joy to many a Sikh - and non-Sikhs too! The elements you bring out are quite universal. Thank you!