Pune, gifted to the Peshwa, flourished

And Baji Rao's shifted throne formed the lace

On mutha's flank shanivar wada rose,

In flesh of brick for only kings shape stone.

Gardens for grass, locales for trade, Lavani

Danced into the courts, composers composed

Until the fatal third fight of Panipat

When Pune's roots thinned, her body withered

By loot, by soot of envy's flame; traitors

Divide, divisions lend hand to the sly;

Regent Raghunath riding ambition

Murdered his nephew whose dying screams haunt,

Still, walls of his sudden grave, and legends.

Raghu ran to the East India company,

Then the Portuguese while men chose puppets

Whose strings made bridge for company and crown.

~Ajay
25/3/19