Shah-Jahan

You knew, Emperor of India, Shah-Jahan,
That life, youth, wealth, renown all float away down the stream of time.
Your only dream was to preserve forever your heart's pain.
The harsh thunder of imperial power would fade into sleep
Like a sunset's crimson splendour, but it was your hope
That at least a single, eternally-heaved sigh would stay to grieve the sky.
Though emeralds, rubies, pearls are all
But the glitter of a rainbow tricking out empty air
And must pass away,
Yet still one solitary tear
Would hang on the cheek of time
In the form
Of this white and gleaming Taj Mahal

(....)

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941),

~kruger, shah jahan -sahid jaya - october '05