Bheeshma and Karna - II

In the design of death by Sun’s northern motion,
Was a meeting arranged with His earthly son.
With his body in pain and heart in devotion,
Bheeshma lay awaiting the call of Capricon.

Bheeshma:
“Who art thou that thus burns my feet
with tears, more than these missiles would ply?
Rise and by my crown, pray take thy seat,
For, what art a conversation that not eye to eye?”

Karna:
“Oh Sire, I rather face thy gracious feet,
for in meeting thy eye, thy disapproval, I fear.
Pray pardon this act, as imprudence, I entreat.
This is unworthy Karna – the son of a Charioteer.

From a dark cloud carrying years of unexpressed love,
That were driven by the winds of reason so peculiar,
Onto the palms of Karna as barren as wood stove,
As a torrential monsoon, fell Bheeshma’s tears.

Bheeshma:
“What imprudence lies in a grandson’s yearn,
for the rightful seat on his Grandsire’s knee?
Those wretched denials to Kunti’s noblest scion,
Was to rid him off his friendship’s cursed spree!”

“For it is thy prowess that hath fueled the prince with pride,
to design a war against he, whom the Lord Himself sides.
Walk across, O beloved Karna, to virtue’s open gates,
This ocean of blood is still shallow enough for a wade.”

Karna:
“Oh wise sire, where is virtue in deserting the hand,
that fed this being that even a mother found unsafe?
For me, betrothed to death, so enticing and grand,
What wisdom in bowing to the petty maiden called life?”

Bheeshma:
“Yes, death is certain as certain is night,
to all we, who dared the Blessed Lord’s might.
But O Karna, may you find all that in Paradise,
What Earth failed you, from all her riches’ guise.”

Karna:
“May my beloved prince know Karna – his companion,
and know not Karna – Pandavas’s foremost scion.”

Bheeshma:
“Its only when the Sun sets on his glorious son,
would Earth know of Karna’s selfless loyalty.
In bloody Kurukshetra where a crown is to be won,
The spirit of Karna would be its unsung novelty.”

Just spoke Karna and walked back to his tent. He spent the next few days in high-end warfare against his own brothers, the Pandavas, till he met with a glorious death. Such was Karna, one of the noblest, the bravest, yet most cursed warriors of his times.