In the House of Knowledge
past breathes-
once it took hold of my hand
and walked me through time-
from bronze age to the present-
my feet refused to move
when I saw Samudragupta ((320-380 A.D.)
looking at me from his gold coin-
the walls of the Bhuvaneshwar Museum,
this world-
faded away at the twinkle of his eyes-
only the compassionate king and I remained-
‘dust away the time’s crumb
of my military exploits-
I was a poet and a musician too’-
I hold this dear reverie
in my core to date-
Posted for Susan’s Midweek Motif Museum/s @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
I love the sense of magic in this poem
Whenever the world seems to be right in our eyes there will be somebody somewhere making a mess of it and frightening the world…even today. We do tend to make the same mistakes as in the past don’t we?
A wonderful moment. I can feel it and watch the ugly past fade away from its beauties. What if all the leaders and armies of the world were enchanting us with art and poetry instead of terrifying with bombs?
Makes the Kennedy half-dollars seem like the small potatoes they are, eh?
What a wonderful moment, when all else falls away.
Ah yes, museusm grasp us in awe.
Happy Wednesday Sumana
Much❤🕊❤love
There’s something about museums. If nothing else, they make us think about what was and what could be as we take a walk through centuries.
The right museum at the right time in our lives can affect us deeply.
That’s just beautifully written, Sumana.
I love the phrases ‘in the House of Knowledge past breathes’ and ‘dust away the time’s crumb’, Sumana. It’s a stale breath, but a breath no less, I love that kind of walk. I took a similar one in the Ashmolean in Oxford last year, where they have a collection of Egyptian mummies that took my breath away.
Very moving and atmospheric
Lovely…I have been to this museum and Orissa should be proud of this superbly curated and displayed museum, and also this poem….which truly deserves inclusion in any discussion of the world’s finest ethnographic museums.
Beautiful poem, Sumana.
Nicely written and told, Sumana. Your voyage reminds me of viewing the Bayeux Tapestry in the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Bayeux, Normandy, France. There is more to learn than I can comprehend but I do gain a respect for situations and development in our civilation.
I enjoyed Susan’s contribution here this time, thank you for inviting her. And You have a nice journey.
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