LOVE IS A CRUEL DEED

In a far away land, once upon a time
When there was no violence, no fear, no crime
This had occurred at that time
This was a love story, an unearthly crime.

He was a painter poor but strong
His mouth a firm line, his nose so long
He didn’t have a home, he lived on the road
All night he painted, from dawn he carried load.

One morning he was resting after carrying a huge case
When his eyes alighted on his queenly face
Her eyes were deep blue, her face sincere
He could see her eyelashes though she was nowhere near.

As she turned her eyes on him
His whole surrounding suddenly appeared dim
Her back towards the Sun, her hair shielding her face
Her whole self was alighted in a glaze.

For him it was an emotion so deep
Which even her oceanic blue eyes couldn’t seep.

She was alone, sitting in her chariot of gold
With no one with her, only the driver old.
He stepped up to her and bowed low
His walk a jaunty step, his eyes aglow.

His arrival she acknowledged in a short while
And bestowed on him her beautiful smile.
But something he noticed which he had not seen earlier
Her eyes were cloudy on her face so clear.
Before they could speak, she was whisked away
But her head was turned, on him her eyes lay.

He thought he would never see her again
But God had bestowed him his love there and then
He was invited to paint the daughter of a duke so wealthy
For which he was offered a sum very healthy.

He reached the palace and was shown into the hall
Where the duke was standing, his figure lean and tall.
The Duke’s harsh face broke into a smile
He remembered the smile but could not place it for a while.

He was taken to a room, and he opened the door
She was there, he saw and felt his eyes soar
As soon as they were alone, he caught her hand in his
And without hesitation he bent on his knees
He delivered his speech, his lips sang his feeling
And he noticed that the pain in her eyes was healing
It was replaced by a determination strong
That he knew, his love was not wrong.

She knelt beside him and her quiet voice spoke
She began her story and then her icy calm broke
She whispered between sobs that her father was cruel
She was deprived of everything, every day was a duel
She wanted to get away and she needed his support
She asked him to come at night and meet her at the port.

He painted her picture and took the money given
And walked out of the palace, thinking about his remaining life in heaven.

Night came and he waited with an eager heart
But his heart was broken by a cruel dart
She didn’t come, not even a message was sent
His life had received a permanent dent.

He left the place, his heart bitter and leaden
He did not even give her a chance to explain
He walked and walked till he knew not where
His journey, his hurt he had no one to share.

…………….


A month later and there was no sign of him
She lay on her bed, her face pale and grim.
Her father had overheard their heartrending confession
And immediately denied both of them any relation
She was locked in a room, desperate and in tears
On her cruel fate and her father’s behaviour


Now a month was gone and her father was in deathbed
But there was not a person with him not a tear was shed.
But when his demise was announced ahoy
She had wept and wept tears of joy.

She was free to find what God had given
She was free to find her love, her path to heaven.
She searched high and low, in different countries and states
But she met only tightly closed gates.

After a week when she was frantic with worry
Her pageboy appeared in a real hurry
He had heard of an exhibition in a town very near
He might be the one, her love, her dear.
With her heart full of joy, she had arranged to go
To beg him for forgiveness and to the whole world show
How she loved him, how special he was
Leaving him ever, there was no cause.
But reaching there she was received with a chill
Every painting seemed disillusioned but her heart went still
When she reached the painting kept on a bigger wall
It was herself standing, beautiful and tall
But it was not she, some other woman
Her face was filled with malice, which she herself had none.

Then suddenly she realized and her heart was in pain
Another man, like her father, had betrayed her again.
Not wanting to reason, not waiting to know
He painted her as he thought and put her in show
Her beauty was marred by his prejudiced thought
His hatred, his bitterness, her picture had caught.
She walked blindly away right into the sea
To be at last happy, to be at last free.

………….


A few days later while walking by the shore
His eyes met a sight chilling his heart to the core
Her lifeless body lay battered against the caves
But her face was clear as if washed by the waves
Her face explained what her voice could never
Her innocence was proved; his eyes did not waver
He knew that ahead a long life was in store
As punishment; for he, on himself, had closed the door
He knew there wouldn’t be a moment when he wouldn’t be in pain
For his only love, he himself, with his own hands, had slain.