Hampi

City of the dead ?

They said it was the city of the dead

Long before the people had fled, the rest bled

The glorious nagar, now lay in ruin

No King to rule, not even a queen, so they said

Not quite I would say, if you opened your heart

There is life to see, in every nook and art

The grounds tremble at the marauding hordes

Temple and sculpture feel their clanging swords

Wines rustle, the beautiful yakshis sigh

Easy to miss, if you carelessly pass by

Yazhis leap off pillars, as stones come to life

With stories of the yore, valour and strife

A thousand heroes,  come alive on a temple relic

Not  far, are temples of Jain and indo-islamic

From the mountain, the beautiful river is a sight to behold

Eons ago, a blue prince sought  people to his fold

Thunder and lighting, so you think

It is but Anjaneya's war cry, to rally his ilk

On these banks the Devi had pined, 

The Lord spurned, Cupid had burned

Eons later another Prince made this his glory

The greatest empire ever, went the story

Portuguese to Persian,  in awe of this Maya

Waxed lyrical of this marvel, by Krishna deva raya.

Praveen Kumar KL