Author Samit Basu wrote a brilliant (and funny) poem in memory of Shakti Bhatt, the late book editor, who died far too young. An excerpt is below, but you should read the whole poem
The Ten Commandments
The ground was cracked and dry and bleak, and dark clouds streaked the angry sky
As Moses crawled his weary wander down the slopes of Mount Sinai.
His head was bowed, his back was bent, he carried stone tablets of truth
He wished he’d known this day would come; he’d have done push-ups as a youth.
He halted by a rugged rock and laid down the twin slabs of stone.
He looked around and started as he saw that he was not alone.
A vision of delight now stood before him, fashionably clad.
Her eyes were bright and sparkling, her presence made him strangely glad.
‘I’ve heard you have a manuscript,’ she said, ‘so can I take a look?
‘I’ve heard you’re wise and mesmerizing, Mo; It’s time you wrote a book!’
‘This isn’t mine,’ said Moses, ‘It’s the word of God Omniscient.’
‘So you would be his agent, right? You’d get a fair fifteen percent.’
With slender hands she reached out and picked up the stones and Moses stared
She read them calmly. ‘Ten Commandments. Good title. There’s something there.
Ten simple rules to help you lead your life, to guide and show you how,
Great concept. There’s a market, too – self-help’s very big right now.
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