Power
The world is even today
Running after you, behind you
For you, since ages
You are an illusion, a delusion
Everyone dreams of you
To win over you, feel your sensation
You, no one understands
You, no one knows
You are the pride of man
You are fear, terror, and fright
You are the judge who shows
The difference between wrong and right
You are ecstasy
You our geniuses
The reason of winning
You are master of all
The reason for success
The reason for others fall
You are a charm, a fascination
An explained aura
An euphoric addiction since generations
That flows through and through
Across all nations, era after era
With every heart yearning for you
You are the one who makes god, God
What makes us ignorant and him omniscient
You are the one who makes him our lord
You are the reason him we pray
You are the punisher, the guide, the friend
Protect when you please, when you wish, you slay.
__________________________________________________
Power, oh! ruling Power
Why do you have to change
The chosen victors, again and again?
Are you not strong enough?
Or is it not in your range?
To hold the end, are you not so tough?
Or is it the strength of powerless,
That quietly shakes your base
You try to defend a lot, nevertheless
They rise and you fall in each age
And when you see the end to your days
Weak and lost, you leave the stage.
You leave the stage? No you do not
You silently abandon your subject
That is nearing its end, now lost
And you sneak in to the powerless
They do not realize your advent
Become another prey to your influence
So Power, are you Power in real?
You are nothing but a coward,
You abandon your losing comrade
Like an opportunist and disloyal friend
__________________________________________________
A silent smile appeared on an invisible face
"Call me whatever you please"
With an unheard laugh it seemed to say
"But I rule this world in each age
People rise and people fall, not me
I am Power in Power, I am the Stage".
The Poet: This poem was written few years back, perhaps when I was in college. The reasons that compelled me to put it online are few and are as follows: One little girl, an acquaintance of mine, has at times asked to send it to her (I felt too lazy to type it). Also, power struggle and its various forms have been an interesting theme and motif in many literary/artistic works and real-life incidents, the recent ones being the television series Games of Throne as well as the recent Delhi assembly election and Indian national election and their outcomes. A reading of the literary/artwork and election can throw up different parameters and mediums of power struggle and all that can be an extremely interesting read, as well as at the same time, an extremely tiring and futile attempt to reach a convincing conclusion.
At this time, I find the poem largely applicable: What is Power? "Knowledge is Power" or "Power is Power"? At the onset, I would confess, this is not a great/good poem. It is perhaps nothing, but the idea I was trying to play is perhaps something. The poem begins with an ode, where the poet idolizes and personalizes the concept/idea of Power, elevating it to the highest possible level and ascribing everything, even God, to it. The poet praises power and its different ways and means of functioning at various levels.
Its through this analysis that a sudden shift is presented as the second part begins. The poet begins criticizing the "personalized" power for its dubious nature of being something which is not constant. The idea is if something is in Power or is an embodiment of Power or is subject of Power (not subjected to power), why do the odds change to lead to its fall. Why something cannot be in Power forever? Why Power is so relative? Is not Power absolute?
At this juncture, there comes the second break, as if the personalized power has come to life to define its absoluteness to the poet, and in a way de-personalizes itself. The words are uttered in silence. The person uttering the word is formless. The laughter cannot be heard. Its a setting realization in the poets mind of the true nature of "You" it was praising and critiquing before, and the "I" responds to all that as: I am Power in Power, I am the Stage".
Power is a state of things, and state is always relative. People might be in power and out of power, but can never be Power and that is the proof of its absoluteness, of its fundamental nature.
In the view of human world (of behavior and politics), the following words of Lord Varys in the Games of Throne appear to be most true:
You are the one who makes god, God
What makes us ignorant and him omniscient
You are the one who makes him our lord
You are the reason him we pray
You are the punisher, the guide, the friend
Protect when you please, when you wish, you slay.
__________________________________________________
Power, oh! ruling Power
Why do you have to change
The chosen victors, again and again?
Are you not strong enough?
Or is it not in your range?
To hold the end, are you not so tough?
Or is it the strength of powerless,
That quietly shakes your base
You try to defend a lot, nevertheless
They rise and you fall in each age
And when you see the end to your days
Weak and lost, you leave the stage.
You leave the stage? No you do not
You silently abandon your subject
That is nearing its end, now lost
And you sneak in to the powerless
They do not realize your advent
Become another prey to your influence
So Power, are you Power in real?
You are nothing but a coward,
You abandon your losing comrade
Like an opportunist and disloyal friend
Stranded with loss, you do move forward
To quietly join the winning end.__________________________________________________
A silent smile appeared on an invisible face
"Call me whatever you please"
With an unheard laugh it seemed to say
"But I rule this world in each age
People rise and people fall, not me
I am Power in Power, I am the Stage".
The Poet: This poem was written few years back, perhaps when I was in college. The reasons that compelled me to put it online are few and are as follows: One little girl, an acquaintance of mine, has at times asked to send it to her (I felt too lazy to type it). Also, power struggle and its various forms have been an interesting theme and motif in many literary/artistic works and real-life incidents, the recent ones being the television series Games of Throne as well as the recent Delhi assembly election and Indian national election and their outcomes. A reading of the literary/artwork and election can throw up different parameters and mediums of power struggle and all that can be an extremely interesting read, as well as at the same time, an extremely tiring and futile attempt to reach a convincing conclusion.
At this time, I find the poem largely applicable: What is Power? "Knowledge is Power" or "Power is Power"? At the onset, I would confess, this is not a great/good poem. It is perhaps nothing, but the idea I was trying to play is perhaps something. The poem begins with an ode, where the poet idolizes and personalizes the concept/idea of Power, elevating it to the highest possible level and ascribing everything, even God, to it. The poet praises power and its different ways and means of functioning at various levels.
Its through this analysis that a sudden shift is presented as the second part begins. The poet begins criticizing the "personalized" power for its dubious nature of being something which is not constant. The idea is if something is in Power or is an embodiment of Power or is subject of Power (not subjected to power), why do the odds change to lead to its fall. Why something cannot be in Power forever? Why Power is so relative? Is not Power absolute?
At this juncture, there comes the second break, as if the personalized power has come to life to define its absoluteness to the poet, and in a way de-personalizes itself. The words are uttered in silence. The person uttering the word is formless. The laughter cannot be heard. Its a setting realization in the poets mind of the true nature of "You" it was praising and critiquing before, and the "I" responds to all that as: I am Power in Power, I am the Stage".
Power is a state of things, and state is always relative. People might be in power and out of power, but can never be Power and that is the proof of its absoluteness, of its fundamental nature.
In the view of human world (of behavior and politics), the following words of Lord Varys in the Games of Throne appear to be most true:
- Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on the wall, and a very small man can cast a very large shadow.
Varys, Season 2, Episode 3.
Kejriwal and AAP party did pull of a magic trick in the Delhi Elections, then they made the mistake of trusting people and the masses, their past words/actions now come to haunt them, and now they are being shunned and tried for far lesser crimes than what others have committed (Can it be related to Tyrion Lannister?).
Modi pulled of the magic trick in the National Elections. Unlike Kejriwal, he will not make the mistake of trusting masses. However, as everything, his fall is inevitable.
That's all for now folks! This is me signing off!
Adios
Dark-Knight
aka
Subhankar De
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