Aged Indus on thine fettered shore <br />Down the planes the serpent roves, <br />Whilst the gods up-live, yours is <br />From the sand-bed, a blind dolphin. <br /> <br />The boat-bridge, like a steed's back <br />Saddled for ride, or a swinging cradle; <br />On the sheepskin blown afloat <br />The milkmen to the city vie the bank. <br /> <br />Every wave is filled with rubies <br />Water perfumed with musk, <br />From the river waft airs of ambergris <br />Thus spake Shah Latif of Bhit. <br /> <br />What else is Indian, from your name, <br />Continent, ocean, an Indies, -misnomers <br />Christopher Columbus, mistook <br />For the world he new discovered. <br /> <br />Herodotus fond, the Macedonian down, <br />Alexander Burnes, upstream <br />To the black-eyed damsels, <br />Or a Ranjit Singh his armies raised. <br /> <br />Vedas begin on your edge, <br />Sohnidrowned by the treacherous wave: <br />While fed the hungry, fertile lands <br />Water and wealth, go hand in hand. <br /> <br />While on your dried stream, <br />I behold your past, a love, though <br />Ancient gone, and by the sunset in desert <br />Once, it is said, you had flown henceforth. <br /> <br />Empires mighty, fabled loves, <br />On a withered time, I yet not mourn, <br />But as you surge, like my veins carry blood <br />Through my whole, - but alas! That boat-bridge <br />Could you once, tie for me, my last wish on thee? <br /> <br />-Remembering the Boat-Bridge on river Indus at Dera Ismail Khan. <br /> <br />Sadiqullah Khan <br />Peshawar <br />March 29,2014.<br /><br />Sadiqullah Khan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/that-boat-bridge-on-indus/
