The Teacher's Fee : Excerpt

Eklavya’s not quite a hero, a bit player

many like him in that ancient epic

a one-off conflict, a scene here or there

and promptly dismissed in a casual flick.

How does that justify writing long odes

the complex crafted lyrics, line by line

moving glass beads of sounds on an abacus?

all praise’s for demigods

why should anyone carefully realign

the praise towards a mere man with so much fuss?

The quality of steadfastness is rare

rare indeed the mind which has the intrinsic

strings in place to wing it on a prayer

with a statue overseeing his technique

his aim and skills, all arrows straight, all lines toed

and stand fast at payback time and not decline

the cruel fee: his weapon arm made useless.

Admit it. It was odd -

that a Master should spot the statue at the shrine

and gauge the pupil with an eye this ruthless.