The Bishop and the Thief

written by Nanda Nair

Les Miserables is a classic novel written by Victor Hugo, a french novelist. I decided to convert the first chapter of the classic to a poem. The magic that the author himself had brought into the story would probably be unsuccessful when a second person tries to bring it out in any form. But I have tried my best to bring out the essence.

A man so middle-aged had his beard grey,

Slow transition to old age,

Pulling him apart on the way.

“robber’s out. Door’s sans open” warned the lady next door,

For he, Valjean, the ruthless robber, ain’t leaving you lone.

19 years punished, for a stolen bread,

Under the sun, under the moon,

None to see: 19 years of bitter truth!

Finally, alas! Years over, hunger not!

For now, people feared the man,

Who had left his old self in the far past,

Yet, not a home offered none.

The bishop’s angelic,

For he offered a helping hand-

Food for the bowels,

And shelter for the soul-

What more would a man

Homeless for years, need?

Yet, in the time of midnight-

When none watched,

When the clocks ticked,

When the moon shone bright,

The self, abandoned for years-

Saw light, exposing to the weary night.

Tiptoeing, afraid of awakening souls,

Stealing the candles of divinity,

Valjean escaped-no chains broken,

No eyes opened!

Across the garden,

Away from the hills,

Boulders no more an obstacle,

Ran and ran and ran-

Terrified the cops would pick him up.

Morning wasn’t for him,

As now, the cops had his hold!

Dragging him to the bishop,

Puffed up chested man, claimed,

“ha! The candles stolen! Jail’s not away,

Hell’s not far!”

Subtle smile,

Shining eyes,

Soft voice emerged,

Bishop spoke: “ Candles’ not stolen,

Oblivion has stricken him,

For I gifted him the candles!”

A gentle touch on the temples,

Soft breath and angelic movement,

The bishop whispered,

“The god’s within you,

Escape to the land of truthfulness,

Reminisce the past,

The world’s cruel-

But one needn’t be…”