Ram(niklal) Mehta, born in  Dwarka, and was a professor and Head of the Department of English, 
N.A.Arts College,  V.Vidyanagar, Gujarat  India. He retirement in 1994, he splits his time between 
India and North America. He  visited France on a cultural mission in 1989 and presented a scene 
of Moliere's La tartuffe in Paris. He also visited the UK, Scotland and Ireland. He is a life member 
of the World Academy of Arts & Culture  and attended  its convention at IASI, Romania in October, 
2002. He also attended 4th Encuentro Internacional Literario at  Montevideo, Uruguay in April, 2003.
 
 His poems entered  the semi-finalist in the contests held by International Society of Poets, MD, 
USA and was awarded International Poet of Merit Silver Bowl and a medallion in August 2000, 
at Washington, DC, USA. His poems are published in many web zines, and magazines and 
Anthologies of World Congress of Poets (Romania). Eight of his poems are translated into Spanish 
and are published in Anthology of — aBrace,- Circulo de poesia -2 Uruguay. 
Books published in English: The Essays (April 1966), Poems of Ram Mehta (May 2001). 
Poems of Ram Mehta (May 2003),The Roamings (April 2004)

 


 With Bells On
 
 A tall man walks alone
 in Lancaster.
 A yellow and brown joker's cap
 sits atop his head.
 His brown beard straggly, unkempt.
 Walks slowly, purposely,
 grasping his walking staff.
 Bells jingle on his felt hat
 as he strides along.
 
 Schizophrenic?
 Aging Vietnam Vet?
 Seen too much horror?
 Mekong Delta.  Snake grass.
 Dead babies.
 Too many trips in the 60's?
 Someone's son, Dad ?
 Our brother?  Angel or Devil?
 
 At the local grocery store
 people stare.  Shake their heads.
 But no on laughs out loud.
 With a dignity he carries himself
 in silent madness.
 
 People make way for him.
 Make way - Make way - Make way
 for the - what? - the fool?
 His piercing stare looks ahead
 or is he looking back?