Yama by Shiela Gujral is one of the smallest, but most beautiful poems composed by the poetess who writes not only in Punjabi and Hindi, but in English too. Two Black Cinders, Signature of Silence and others of this kind are the poetry works of hers in English apart from her various works she did it.

This is one of the Yama poems written by her, so mythological in context and presentation and it is so predominant in our folk stuffs. We cannot do without taking his name. Yama, the God of Death is but a thing of our psyche and archetype which, but she has improvised here in this poem.

In a very submissive way, the poetess prays to Lord Yama to come not stealthily step by step. She asks him to come swooping upon and to strike dead in one stroke rather than suffering for a specific time. Like a flash of lightning or a raging storm, Yama should strike her dead.

Death is the greatest human fear to be ever gripped with. It is so fearsome and awesome, so dreadful too.

While reading the poem, we become reminded of one written by Tagore and included in Gitanjali. Tagore in that poem prays to deliver him most kindly to deliver him. The call has come, and he has to go, the jiva has to which may not like to as for maya and as it is difficult to break the bonds of maya-moha, but instead of he will go taking time, begging for mercy, getting out of his home, bidding him welcome to be with his messenger for the dark path to take to.

It is a typical death poem, and it reminds us of our childhood days when we used to see the dark, gigantic figure shown as Yama or Dharmaraja punishing for vices and sins in the puppet shows and folk theatres. The folks too used to tell many a tale with regard to the coming of Yama and the up keeping of dhamma. What it to go with? While hearing about the punishment, hair used to stand on. The didactic and moral folk tales used to instruct too with regard to life and death, sins and vices and we used to draw and derive from moral lessons too.

Come not stealthily letting her know that you are coming so that she may not doubt his falling footfall with regard to the nearing of death. She asks him to replenish his forces for taking the soul away silently and secretly. Swoop you in such a way that we know it not of the swooping and hitch you back in your way.

Yama is called to be cruel and hard of heart. Whatever it be, it is but a poem of its kind, here she tells a different saga that every human being aspires for as for delivery from this world, the sudden journey from here and if it is painful, it disturbs us indeed.

Lord Yama!
come not stealthily
step by step
Go
replenish your forces,
then come swooping
like a flash of lightning
or a raging storm
and in one stroke
strike me dead.