Once I came across a purple-robed bard

Tall and smiling and with pearly bright teeth;

He’d a lantern in his right hand to guard

The Emerald City covered in sleep ‘neath.

The Witches would not enter, play mischief,

In the Cold Storage holding the treasure;

But most unexpectedly like a thief

A white-winged raven tore every measure.

And there were tricky black crows that sent wolves

To protect it, help pack what it wanted;

But there’s the golden-bearded Wizard of New Oz

Whose goldenness cannot be out-smarted.

If only we know how to live in his calm,

The captor’s sword that kills but causes no harm!

RY Deshpande

1 May 2009