WIZARD OF THE GOLDEN WILLOW        

                                ~ A tribute to the Centurion of centuries 

 

 

Fascinating indeed  was Sachin’s rise on the cricket horizon,

The school record incredibly mammoth and unheard before,

Boy of sixteen thrown before merciless lions in their own den,

Prodigy,all critics acclaimed even before he was yet to score.

Litmus tests followed too soon,he was on trial and on hot trail,

Bowlers, world over roasted him in every cauldron of cricket,

Bouncers, Yorkers and Googlies all teased  him in no avail,

Maiden ton on an English soil in his eighth walk to the wicket.

Centuries followed and flowed at a frenetic run getting spree,

Takes guard and prowling for the prey,while the bowlers frown,

Fifty tons in tests,Ninety nine altogether and driving in glee,

Milestones,records hooked,clean bowled and later unknown  .

One dayer or tests all same to this smiling assassin’s willow,

Records of Don, SMG and Laras all stumped on the way,

Bowlers sans clue,all dancing before the willow of this maestro,

Scaling all summits that came on his way and on his day.

Laurels, MOM awards, none seemed to satiate his hunger ,
Achievements mounting, slackness in his approach,unseen

Such was his penance ,ever articulate and always eager,

After twentytwo years of batting,yet not out of sight screen.

Billions of Indians with prayers in their lips,in somewhat a curfew,

World cup win was eluding  his majestic,overflowing cupboard,

A great dream,kept in defence, unfulfilled till recently,we knew

His maiden world cup win,our prayers and his wish struck gold.

Million dollar question yet in wait, with chagrin and expectation,

Billions of Indians and followers of cricket were crazy world over

Hundred of hundreds finally on the horizon,for the coronation 

The wait for the inevitable elusive ton,indeed now is finally over.