Aged Indus on thine fettered shore br Down the planes the serpent roves, br Whilst the gods up-live, yours is br From the sand-bed, a blind dolphin. br br The boat-bridge, like a steed's back br Saddled for ride, or a swinging cradle; br On the sheepskin blown afloat br The milkmen to the city vie the bank. br br Every wave is filled with rubies br Water perfumed with musk, br From the river waft airs of ambergris br Thus spake Shah Latif of Bhit. br br What else is Indian, from your name, br Continent, ocean, an Indies, -misnomers br Christopher Columbus, mistook br For the world he new discovered. br br Herodotus fond, the Macedonian down, br Alexander Burnes, upstream br To the black-eyed damsels, br Or a Ranjit Singh his armies raised. br br Vedas begin on your edge, br Sohnidrowned by the treacherous wave: br While fed the hungry, fertile lands br Water and wealth, go hand in hand. br br While on your dried stream, br I behold your past, a love, though br Ancient gone, and by the sunset in desert br Once, it is said, you had flown henceforth. br br Empires mighty, fabled loves, br On a withered time, I yet not mourn, br But as you surge, like my veins carry blood br Through my whole, - but alas! That boat-bridge br Could you once, tie for me, my last wish on thee? br br -Remembering the Boat-Bridge on river Indus at Dera Ismail Khan. br br Sadiqullah Khan br Peshawar br March 29,2014.