THE SECRETS OF ISHBAR

The City of Fame

It was called Sharika's town until the king Pravarasena
moved the capital here from old Srinagar.
An embankment separated the town from the Dal.
This Sathu had orchards of apple trees:
the water flowing to the Vitasta from the Dal
is the Apple River. 

The goddess became Sharika in her shape as sparrow
she brought her mountain near the town:
from the Hari Parvat one can see
Haramukh, Mahadeva, and Tatakuti
Nanga Parvat in the north
many vistas of gardens and water.
Near the base is the rock of Ganesh
and old temples that are in incarnations
of a new faith. 

On the other side is Gopadri
the hill with Shiva temple atop.
Here we see the river snaking on a side
floating gardens
countless waterways
islands in the lake
the city of fame
of seven bridges
now seized by madness.