A pebble, precious or priceless!

Climbed up d’ hill slowly,

a step at a time

bowed head tells,

something bothering him

Life's deserted, 
wishes in vain,

needs little guidance,
from a wise man

He lived on d' hill top, 
deep in woods,

in outskirts, far from crowd

Got in to counselor’s abode,

busy in reading, 
           fully immersed

A courteous bow,

next a voice of desperation

spelled out words,
coated with hesitation

“Excuse me, sir, I seek your help”

  his eyes got, 
lifted for a moment

Again attention back to book,

just a gentle nod, 
and his head shook

“I can achieve a lot,

but my dreams shattered

People see no value in me,

my ability ignored”

Still gazing at d’ book,
 a curt reply,

“first do a favor to me, 
can U comply”

“Of course I’ll try, 
express your desire,

but my candid distress, 
don’t ignore sir”

“I need fund, 
to pay a large debt,

take my gold ring, 
sell it in market

Settle d’ deal for,
  at least five gold coins

Ride my horse, go,

find out how much,
 I can fetch in exchange

Ring in d’ fist, 
moved from stall to stall

from cloth merchants,
 to d' fruit sellers

a farmer selling chicken, 
bargaining with customer

each waved him away, all ignored

Finally a pig seller,
 surveyed in soiled hands,

told with a covetous smirk, 
only five bronze coins

I tried utmost, 
your assignment done,

five gold coins for d’ ring,
 offered by none

“That’s fine,” 
responded the wise man,

try with a jeweler in d' town then

Jeweler heedfully saw d’ ring,

got up and, 
held it with a silk handkerchief

Checked with a magnifying glass,
 under a luminous lamp,

“superb, a masterpiece!,” 
softly he proclaimed

“If owner in a hurry, 
I’ll pay ten gold coins,
 buy it for my purpose then”

“But if time granted,
 to bring out all its beauty,

I’ll find a wealthy customer,
in d’ city

To pay at least,
 20 gold coins for it”

a report,d’jubilant young man,
wanted to submit

The wise man heard d' story,
 with full attention

“ignorant can’t tell,
d’ value of a thing,

to them entirely unknown”

“Listen only to appraisal,
of a skilled specialist

who can judge true value,
 of a master artist”

 A brief smile and then,
put d’ ring back on his finger

 waved d' young man good-bye,
for ever

Wisdom only can assess,

ruby, emerald, sapphire,
or a customary pebble
 precious or priceless

Temples all around

College,

 a temple of knowledge

Topics deliberated,

take home message dispensed

to gather gist, a rush

Genius come to discuss

Tutors, learners depart

concrete compound left apart

deserted gallery, lonely vestibules

no lone human whisper audible

 

Court,

 a temple of justice

gather judges, lawyers, also culprits

Cases argued with valid points

Evidences produced,

 doctored documents often used

To convince judges,
 for a judgement

laws explained in, for & against

judges listen, take no chance

weigh pros & cons, in a balance

 do give an appropriate verdict

Blind folded d’ justice

Hospital,

a temple of health,

sick arrive with ample faith

A biological body submitted,

dent-paint, overhauls made,

as needed

 Trust on proficient doctors,

portrayed as if demigods

Job done with least chaos,

even during rush hours

Campus appears evidently clean,

a workshop seems so serene

 

A temple,

 temple of Gods,

their safe abode

Gods in d’ form of idol,

ambience placid & simple

A place to confess,

grief-joys to express,

 Truth & only truth, a confession
gushes from heart in original form

Each devotee expects a miracle,

though offerings, sufferings

 never inversely proportional

My cottage, a tiny temple I consider,

Only few manuscripts & a computer

Often I squeeze my heart,

for little juicy extract,

with my stock of words

Poems germinate,

vibrate emotion cords,

it's most tranquil a temple,

 even if no Gods

Brahma created mankind

ought to perish a day

Humans create poem

poet’s work do stay

Poems admired,
merger of meaningful words

Focus on facts of life,

thrive for countless years,

usher a precise path,

relevant for eras across

Each,
a home of worship of its kind,
 to render service to mankind
Verdict utterance, temple bells,

joy of wisdom, patients’ yells

Recited poems’ melodic sound,

made me feel,

temples all around