A Poem by MICHELE GIBSON
It is hard to know the mind of any martyr
The conviction that makes the path irrevocable
Does pride push one on the greater road to glory?
Or selflessness support the sacrifice?
Skills in weaponry and horsemanship
Keen observation and an agile frame,
Will further any hero in his cause
But still, the intrinsic motivation tips the scale
Who can say why Ajit Singh responded
When the Moghul messenger harangued the youth
But he sprang to his father's own defence
And warned the messenger to mind his brow
And held the army off by only cunning at the river Sarsa
When they chose to abandon Anandpur
Even at Chamkaur as the rogue army closed its grip
And battalion after battalion was launched out to fight the foe
The gate was breached but there they stood to
Nonetheless cut any Moghul down as they themselves fell
Until Ajit approached his father
And begged in earnest piety
To take his turn with the others at the gate,
Assured the Guru that he knew his task
And understood the price, yet desired to paralyze them
With many weapons and a sure technique
He did his best to damage and defend
But ultimately fell with lance lodged in his side
And here the glory or the sacrifice?
Here in measure equal to the spirit of the man,
Is the anguish of the father
And then without a second lost or
Any heartfelt hesitation, Jujhar jumps to aid
The next battalion to the gate
And follow in his brother's mastery and selfless service,
To affront the mogul army with their very confidence
And protect their way of life, but more importantly the precious Guru
And here again the sacrifice!
The Guru, knowing he will never see his sons again and
Knowing one has suffered an empowered misery
Allows himself to look one last time upon his child
And consents to let him leave?
I think not pride, but selflessness
Allows the father to endure this agony.
Originally published on August 2, 2010.