English Poem

Guardians of forgotten vaults

by Rashmi Gowda

Editor's note: Rashmi wrote this poem after the recent discovery of six hidden treasure-filled chambers in Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala. The temple is maintained by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore and the treasure has been officially valued at upwards of US$ 20 Billion.

Rashmi Gowda works for a medical device company in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. She grew up in South India, and moved to the US to pursue her MBA. She has been writing short stories, poems and travelogues for her blog rushwrites.blogspot.com and also worked as co-editor for her school's weekly magazine. She can be reached at rashmi.gowda [at] gmail [dot] com.

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the treasures and watched
Marauders crossing vast swaths of land
Pillaging, raiding streets paved with gold

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the treasures and watched.
Muslim raiders to British voyagers
Scurried away with riches

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the prosperity and watched
King after King visited the vaults within
Lovingly parting with the wealth of the state

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the drought and watched
Famine spread in the kingdom, "No taxes"
Decreed the King, "Open up a vault!"

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the looters and watched
In wonder of the good graces of Lord Padmanabha
Their vaults safe from grave-robbers, foreign rulers alike

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the camera lights and watched
Aghast, cruel wand of fate
Opened up the doors to a salivating populace

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the tamasha and watched
No foreign invader could plunder
As completely as masses let asunder

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the treasures and watched
False promises, vague intentions
Precious cargo taken en masse

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the empty vaults and remembered
Careful curses, incantations in the name of the Lord
"Take heed, irreverent descendants", they whispered

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the horrors and wept
Devastation, turmoil, unrest
"Return to the Lord, you fools!" they said

Ghosts of centuries past
Beheld the forlorn walls, and waited
Guardians of long-forgotten vaults
They had learnt to be patient

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