Poems by
Tagore Almeida

Tagore’s Prayer

a poem by Tagore Almeida

I was walking down the fields and came across a lonely crucifix,
So I fell on the stones before it on my knees and asked Christ to leave aside the ethics,
As blood poured out of my knees onto the pebbles near me,
I looked at the stone cross and closing my eyes I pleaded ‘duggie’.
But Christ didn’t hear me it seems, so I looked at him one more time,
Tears rolled down my eyes, blood flowed from his crucified wounds, one more time.

I walked away knowing that there was nothing he could do or say,
So I tried a different crucifix in the same way, every hour every single day.
Here I was, the son of man, asking the Son of God almighty,
For the love of a woman who lives all over within me.

I went past the temple with bleeding knees I couldn’t step in
A sacred and clean place, I couldn’t dirty it as blood covered my skin.
But as the people in there praised and sang out your name Bagwan,
I wanted you to hear me instead, telling you that I am the one,
Who needs you now more than anyone else in this entire world,
I want you to stop what you are doing and give me my girl.

But Bagwan, tears rolled down your eyes, so I bowed my head and walked away,
I love my baby so much, so I tried a different temple every hour, every day.
Here I was, the son of man asking you Bagwan, who I love so deeply,
For nothing else in my life, but to give me my dear duggie.

As I walked home I went past a Mosque, and I heard your name being called out Allah,
I washed my wounds, let the blood flow out as it mingled with the fresh clean water.
I walked in and knelt on my wounds and began to offer my namaz to you,
I tried to pray the way you want your people to, and so I tried my best to do.
I felt a cold wind touch me, it’s like you lifted me up and helped me stand,
But I kept asking you Allah for my baby as you gently let go of my hand.

So Allah I stood out of your Mosque, as my brothers walked out of your shrine,
They seemed to be so happy and peaceful, none of them seemed to notice this pain of mine
I know your tears rolled down Allah, as I walked away,
But then again I tried a different Mosque every hour, every day.

I finally reached home, and as I was making my way to my door,
Some one yelled something that sounded familiar, like something that I had said before.
I looked back and saw these school kids, hold hands and united they began to say.
I choked when they began to chant “Alleluia. Bismillah. Hare, Hare”.

Lord, I seem to not understand this side of you,
Those kids soothed the pain within me I know they were sent by you.
I know you love me Lord, I know that you care,
And I know that you are trying to give me the love of a woman who cannot be there.