St. FRANCIS CATHEDRAL, 1503 A.D.

I am thrilled with immense happiness when I see them enter my gate

Even the stony Cenotaph in my garden smile at me with equal merriment

Though he is right in front of me, they ignore him as they walk towards me

They gaze at me with reverence and marvel at my timeless beauty

I am the Cathedral of St. Francis in my home town island, Fort Kochi.

I was born in wood 516 years back revered as the first of my kind in India

Those were the days when great men like Vasco Da Gama strode the earth

I was brought up with great care by the king of Kochi and the Portuguese

I was dressed up in brick and mortar when I turned a teenager at sixteen

Every day was a celebration with many a friends gathering in my bosom

More and more they grew until I hardly recognised them who was who.

I had many siblings after me, but for everyone I was the elder, the biggest 

Many a kings and queens came to see me, bowing their heads in humility

Even the great Vasco when he died was buried in my bosom with love

Over the years I became God, untouchable, invincible, arrogant and proud

Then came the Dutch with their new Gods and terrifying guns and canons

They razed every sibling of mine to the ground and burned them mercilessly

I was trembling with fear when they came to me, all my pride had vanished.

Somehow, I survived that fateful day, thanking and weeping I never slept

Hoping that they never came back, I prayed the whole night for a miracle

As the sun rose the next day I could hear distant rhythmic clatter of hoofs

I painfully realised that those were the Dutch horses marching towards me

The platoon came to a halt in front of my gate and I knew my end was here

The three wise men leading the brigade dismounted their ornate horses

They entered my gate and came inside and then to my utter surprise and joy

They walked through my aisle and knelt down at my altar and silently prayed

The fear, the anguish, the trembling stopped and I fell into a deep slumber.

When I awoke, I realised that the Dutch had adopted me with keen devotion

And they decorated me generously with a lot of new ornaments and clothes 

I was enjoying all the attention and care, it made me look younger each day

I started to be alive again with hymns mesmerising the air everyday morning

And feasting and gaiety on festivals lasted until the end of the month or more

And when electricity came, I was illuminated with colourful bulbs on Easter

My bells were strong and their gong rendered the air every morning of Lent

My lawns were lush green and grass was manicured to perfection every day

My gardens were rich with vibrant flowers whose fragrance pervaded the air

My people, the people of Kochi loved me and I loved them too fervently.

After the Dutch left, the English came. And again, I feared for my life

Can’t they just leave us alone? I used to ask the sea. And the sea replied,

'Our land is too beautiful and such beauty is more a curse than a blessing'

I knew she was right and we had witnessed many battles together, she and I

My heart longed I would someday be free from my foreign masters, but alas!

I had to wait another 200 years before my motherland would be free, again.

The English didn’t bother about me, they left me in the hands of the Dutch

Later in life I realised they had more important things to conquer than God

Everyday with the devout I would also pray that He will change their hearts

Why do men want to rule men, when happiness is in sharing and giving

If only I could speak I would tell them, out of the wisdom from 500 years

That there is no better happiness than loving one another unconditionally

That there is no secret way to peace than to forgive one another absolutely.

I still stand here witnessing every change through these 516 years

Earlier they used to sit for hours and paint me, now they capture me on mobiles

Earlier they used to walk or ride a horse, but now they ride a car or a bike

Earlier they used to be well dressed when they came to me, now they hardly come

Earlier they lived by the rules of the church, now they live by their own rules

Earlier they used to feast together, now they celebrate on their own

Earlier they used to be more human, now they act more like robots

I wish they were more loving, more kind, more caring, more forgiving, more human.