The museum was deserted at mid-noon The summer sun more than his taste for history Drove him in for a stroll among the dead faces and objects.
His eyes caught the two warnings Photography prohibited and Don’t touch objects
He furtively cell-clicked Dupleix’s Bed Solid 18th century teakwood Carrying stains of his passions on white linen Imprinted with the motions of his emotions
There he saw the ruler on the bedstead With tender touch of fingers on his head One svelte hand on the dark wooden stand
His hand involuntarily touched the wood
A small chunk fell into his hand And without a second thought In a forbidden impulse He shoved it inside his pocket
He came out from the musty smell into the sun
A chip of Dupleix in his pocket His passion’s outlet Escapes from the ravages of war To find solace From the tender hands around him Bought by force of wealth Far far away from home.
Away from colonial past he breathed deep
The little wooden chip would be a memorable keep!
the incidents narrated in this poem are purely fictitous having no connection with the real events, places and characters. Joseph Francois Dupleix was an 18th century Governor General of the French establishment in India.