1. The guide was a learned person and a
friendly one
A polyglot he was with a
gentle sense of fun;
He seemed to know the
history and stories
Of great rulers and spoke
with effortless ease;
He spoke greatly of kings
and their ancestral line
Who were noble,
kind-hearted and fine;
They made their country
rich and reforms wrought
Without changing basic
culture and thought;
2. They owned rich mansions and palaces
huge
With crystal pillars
inlaid with gems and gold
And year by year their
wealth grew manifold;
So many people came there
to find jobs and refuge
Obeying rigid rules and
hard, working hours
Building luxurious
mansions and towers
The kings, though strict,
put their wealth to good use;
Noble values and discipline
they did infuse.
3. The lovely palaces with royal symbols
and turrets fine
The leaping figures of steeds and polished pillars round
We glanced from distance
from the palace ground
With so many rooms and
terraces in pretty designs
We watched with wonder
though not allowed inside;
We learnt a lot about
royal glory from our guide;
The lovely creepers and
flowers carved with intricate art
With gilded pillars and
arches beautified this spot.
4. We travelled through the winding lanes of
the old town
Lined with rows of old
houses muddy-brown
And most of them deserted
like temples old
Left as exhibits for
tourists to behold
Their simple structures
seemed plain and gross
With faded colors, broken windows and walls.
Like visions in a dream, they take us back to past
When people tended their flocks in the desert vast.
5. The streets flanked by shops and
stalls that sold
Costly jewels, gems and
diamonds set in gold
Showcased necklaces, girdles and stone-set rings
A sparkling world of
wealth with beaded gems on strings.
Various items and spices
were neatly arranged in rows
Sweet smelling perfumes
of musk, saffron and rose.
Tourists tempted by heaps
of saffron and spices sweet
As tokens of their visit
bought a few, as vendors greet.
6. Circling the beach grand luxurious
hotels seen
A perfect blend of
ambiance beside waters blue-green;
Surrounded
by palms and lawns grown with superb skill
Five-star hotels and
villas with fountains and rills;
Young people swim and
glide with vibrant roar
As foaming waves compete
caressing the sandy shore;
The spacious villas seem
like visions in a dream
A wonder to look at built in unique ways supreme.
7. The new township with ultramodern designs
With steep skyscrapers
illumined bright
In various geometrical
designs made a pretty sight
Spurred by new technological innovations shine;
With branded cars plying
on roads smooth and wide
A noisy, busy world filled
with swelling tide
Of workers from various
nations from different fields.
Enriching this rich state
to grow with greater speed.
8. Despite its changing modern look the
city revealed
Her traditional culture
and vision in various fields
Her spacious museums,
industries and trade
The harmonious blend of
past and present displayed
With wonderful monuments, towers and treasures
A gorgeous city fraught
with luxurious pleasures
Kudos to rulers, innovators
and workers great
For changing this desert
region into a flourishing state.
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17th January, 2024 Somaseshu Gutala