Road Not Taken : Mushtaque B Barq

Road Not Taken

Mushtaque B Barq

So early a sage passed by my lawn,

disturbing the hiss of the calm.

His begging bowl and the rosaries

he could not align with his steps;

he stumbled often, and that called me out.

His hands so soft and feeble,

I took them in my hands and a finger broke.

He sighed and shot an arrow of hate

that stuck deeply into the frame of my eyes.

A smile in the garb of agony—he passed,

that paused the movement of this globe.

Still was the air; frozen dew shocked my limbs.

Birds fell off the perch, and I turned into a stone.

A pulse from his rosary broke the stillness.

Before my surprised eyes, two ways welcomed my gaze:

one leading to the highway,

the other to the hem of the sage.

What impulse brought me to his hem?

A garland of pearls was shining beneath his chest.

The eye of the fallen angel in me was wet.

He set a road to lead me within him.

An unimaginable chasm he opened and pushed me in.

Nothing—nothing save my beats and his beads

I could see and hear.

With every stumble, a bead from his rosary

led me to the much deeper gorgeous, where I died,

wearing a shroud of his pearls—and lived a moment.

(Mushtaque B. Barq is a celebrated literary figure recognized for his exceptional contributions to literature and translation. He is currently worling as English Mentor for Cambridge school. His accolades include the G.N. Firaq Memorial Award, the Kalidas Literary Award, Ahad Zargar Memorial award'  the Emerging Achievers Award from Council India, and the Editor's Choice Award from the USA, reflecting his global literary impact. Known for his insightful translations and poetic finesse, Barq bridges diverse cultures through his work. His dedication to preserving and promoting Kashmiri literary heritage while making it accessible to a broader audience has established him as a luminary in contemporary literature. His profound narratives resonate with universal themes of humanity and spiritual.)