Chasing the North Star

One fine morning
when the sky was free
from clouds and rain,
little Mirdad of the plane
decided to wake up from dream
and scale a mountain.
He is a dear lad.
He has grown up in the valleys
and dipped in each of it brooks.
The rocks, the trees and the penny
lanes built his blood vessels,
while he gathered enough
leaves of grass to pile
a few counts of hay.
Now he wants neither
any boredom
nor the toys made in clay.

His eyes have just started
to wander in wonders
beyond the walls of its castle.
He now owes a vision of the Zenith
atop its horizon.
He has heard stories
of the frog and the princess;
and enough of the moon,
and of its changing shapes,
about the dark patches.
Yet from the universe of things
He chooses the brightest star
of the North to chase.

“There you go Mirdad;
the world lays open its road for you,
who choose to travel.
Fear not of anything
when you bear only
the good intent.”
– reluctant; but
concealing from her beloved son
that is what his mother said.
For one last time
she shed a tear of separation
as he steps out of the castle gates.
And as he disappears into distance
her heart echoed a silent scream,
“Mirdad ! My lad Mirdad !
How could I just let you go?”
She prayed,” Oh the omnipresent,
be there by my son
wherever he meets a foe.”

Thus Mirdad set out for
the Odyssey far from his land.
Away from his mother,
he outlined it to his comrade,
the Princess of the Hills –
Lady Aurora –
the kind, consistent
and beauty in its elegance.
He asked her,
“I am going to chase the North
star of the sky,
will you be my side
to honor and testify ?”
To his joy,
the Princess decided to join him.
She patted on her royal horse
and let Mirdad ride,
the hint of a star was still so far
that they traversed
distances and wide.

Finally, they reached on
top of a hill,
It was high enough to give
them a view of zeal.
They set their feet on the ground,
that was one small step for the star,
and one giant leap for to bring
you closer to the far;
since it was really dark and gloom
they could only see
each other around.
Mirdad tied the horse to his rest.
The sky looked vast,
though the stars were less,
they sat on the ground to be their guest.
They were all set to role the reel
then suddenly he could smell
a fume of the devil.
And in no time they appeared
to ask, “Who are you to be here
against our will ?”
He introduced themselves
and the purpose of the halt,
but barely could they interpret
being high on single malt.

Mirdad claims to be
no great warrior;
but he is familiar
with the art of War.
He paid heed to his master’s words,
“Choose your battles wisely.
Not every battle is
worth fighting for
when you have the War to win.
Sometime you fight while
sometime you flight.”
He made the call and
expressed a deal to be made,
the courage he earned
is all that he had for the trade.
He then pulled it together
to make the treaty
with the foreman of his anti-heroes,
all he wants now is peace
and settlement in ground zero.
He knows he did no crime
still offered them
some sixty and a hundred dime;
Evil may still be in the dark
but it made them fade with
the passing time.

With the princess in the back
Mirdad set the horse free,
curls and curves of the hills
resumed their journey.
They stopped by the Minar,
the Jewel of the Nizam;
to seek food, shelter
and rest for the tired arm.
Lights arranged in the height,
aroma spread in the air,
the castle did the justice
for the weary travelers.
Mirdad had always been splendid
his face full of beguile,
but he got little worried
for the Princess and
beg her pardon for the
diminishing smile.
He believed the princess
had forgiven him,
while they shared together
a dessert full of cream.

Yet a heart so deceived,
Mirdad plans his course back
though his aspirations only revamped.
Soon it started to rain;
and as they were moving,
like a mild whiplash
splashes of water hit his face.
But he never stopped,
nor the mighty royal horse
while firm were his steps.
And each droplet of the rain
whispered in his ears,
“Mirdad ! Oh dear, Mirdad !
You think you have missed
the star for the rains,
or some pennies and a few dime.
I wish I could tell you
that the Northern star
you were chasing
is not beyond your reach
sitting with you all the time.”

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Note : Based on a true story.