The Balloon

By Sheikh Shabir Kulgami

I woke and ran like a horse in a race;

The pen and the book greeted me in grace,

Merrily, merrily, I became a man of the word,

Who did not seek a word from me?

Little I knew my road was bound for the mire of mud:

The pen and the book, he kissed no more,

Here and there, roses and garlands hailed him in galore,

The king and the beggar smiled indeed;

He was a diamond, who did not say,

He rolled in gold east and west,

Ruling all hearts, he lived in a house of glass

The iron hand in velvet glove had a silken touch

Who ever saw the venom in his bag?

-the venom he gifted for the treasure of gold:

Ever, I thought my road was clean,

Little I knew, it was a dream,

Little I knew, I played with a balloon.

Who did not see me an eyesore?

Who did not admire him in galore?

By Sheikh Shabir Kulgami