 |
1) These weird unclaimed creatures --none calls them own
They roam along the streets in the town
No showy flourish of bands around their throats
These goalless wanderers-- remote
Far from homely pleasures move idle and vain
Unnoticed strangers treated with disdain.
2) Though they strive to sincerely share
Responding with loud barks, none listens to care
With spurning looks they shoo them off
As useless nuisance they laugh to scoff
No welcome notes for you rejected by all
Debarred by status-- impregnable wall!
They roam along the streets in the town
No showy flourish of bands around their throats
These goalless wanderers-- remote
Far from homely pleasures move idle and vain
Unnoticed strangers treated with disdain.
2) Though they strive to sincerely share
Responding with loud barks, none listens to care
With spurning looks they shoo them off
As useless nuisance they laugh to scoff
No welcome notes for you rejected by all
Debarred by status-- impregnable wall!
3) They run with busy tread to show their zeal
As people celebrate with sumptuous meals--
With callous blows and unceremonious kicks
Driven away they stand apart and lick
The morsels thrown by the luxurious lot
No feeling for these poor creatures with hunger fraught !
4) Self-styled sentinels of the street! you guard
Us day and night though we disown and discard;
Ignoring your selfless services as noisy nuisance
Spoiling our sleep with restless disturbance;
You do your duty with loud ringing barks
At every knave and stranger in the dark.
5) Some lucky creatures born of noble breed
Well-known for figure,grace and speed
Honored with collars pride themselves too great
Avoid the stray brethren with snarling hate;
Showpieces of status-- and just for bread
Obey their masters' commands with slavish tread.
6) With friendly fawning looks you beg for food
As people drive them off with curses rude
Still wagging your tails at courteous distance you stand
Hoping for remnants from charitable hands
Who cares for starving millions in this land?
Even of men-- where do these humble creatures stand?
7) Naughty children chasing thee for pleasure
Ignorant of their your state beyond their measure
Hitting you lustily with stones and bricks
They play their pranks and cruel tricks
And as you limp with bleeding pain
They laugh aloud with heartless disdain!
8) Being provoked some mongrels become insane
And bite the passers-by on the lane
A flood of fury surges on the streets
Dire vengeance and slaughter everywhere meets
Bundled together so many guiltless dogs
Whirled round by noose to be hurled into the carts.
9) Stuffed like vile culprits caged inside the cart
Their innocent pleas not heard by human lot
Poisoned to death or by deadly prick
A nice humane way to exterminate the sick
In getting rid of the dogs-- they feel too glad
A menace to society they think--who's mad?
10) So many rotting dogs on highway struck
Crushed to death by fast moving cars and trucks;
Who is to blame? No time to think or spare
Unburied do they turn to dust, not fair!
Like old people bed-ridden uncared, they die
A bitter truth from street-dogs to learn and sigh!
11) How Strange this society! A confusing maze!
Dogs deified as Anubis by the Egyptian race
Fabled as Cerberus by the Hellenic bards
Worshipped by Indians as the sacred hounds of God:
Yet treated by us in the most inhuman way;
If questioned by Heaven what should we say?
12) Their sordid state brought to my sympathizing heart
The pitiable plight of the poorer lot;
Abandoned to their fate and fatal disease
Who yearn for speedy death-their final release:
Are we true humans? Doubts assailed my mind--
Mere mechanical toys bereft of feelings kind.
=== ==== =====
18th September, 2012 Somaseshu Gutala
References:
a) Anubis-- Egyptian god with dog's face presiding over the underworld.
b) Cerberus-- Three-headed dog guarding the underworld of Pluto, God
of the underworld in Greek mythology.
c) Sacred hounds-- Kalabhairava, the powerful aspect of Shiva,is shown
with four black hounds accompanying him. They represent f sacred Vedas, epitome of Dharma or righteousness.
As people celebrate with sumptuous meals--
With callous blows and unceremonious kicks
Driven away they stand apart and lick
The morsels thrown by the luxurious lot
No feeling for these poor creatures with hunger fraught !
4) Self-styled sentinels of the street! you guard
Us day and night though we disown and discard;
Ignoring your selfless services as noisy nuisance
Spoiling our sleep with restless disturbance;
You do your duty with loud ringing barks
At every knave and stranger in the dark.
5) Some lucky creatures born of noble breed
Well-known for figure,grace and speed
Honored with collars pride themselves too great
Avoid the stray brethren with snarling hate;
Showpieces of status-- and just for bread
Obey their masters' commands with slavish tread.
6) With friendly fawning looks you beg for food
As people drive them off with curses rude
Still wagging your tails at courteous distance you stand
Hoping for remnants from charitable hands
Who cares for starving millions in this land?
Even of men-- where do these humble creatures stand?
7) Naughty children chasing thee for pleasure
Ignorant of their your state beyond their measure
Hitting you lustily with stones and bricks
They play their pranks and cruel tricks
And as you limp with bleeding pain
They laugh aloud with heartless disdain!
8) Being provoked some mongrels become insane
And bite the passers-by on the lane
A flood of fury surges on the streets
Dire vengeance and slaughter everywhere meets
Bundled together so many guiltless dogs
Whirled round by noose to be hurled into the carts.
9) Stuffed like vile culprits caged inside the cart
Their innocent pleas not heard by human lot
Poisoned to death or by deadly prick
A nice humane way to exterminate the sick
In getting rid of the dogs-- they feel too glad
A menace to society they think--who's mad?
10) So many rotting dogs on highway struck
Crushed to death by fast moving cars and trucks;
Who is to blame? No time to think or spare
Unburied do they turn to dust, not fair!
Like old people bed-ridden uncared, they die
A bitter truth from street-dogs to learn and sigh!
11) How Strange this society! A confusing maze!
Dogs deified as Anubis by the Egyptian race
Fabled as Cerberus by the Hellenic bards
Worshipped by Indians as the sacred hounds of God:
Yet treated by us in the most inhuman way;
If questioned by Heaven what should we say?
12) Their sordid state brought to my sympathizing heart
The pitiable plight of the poorer lot;
Abandoned to their fate and fatal disease
Who yearn for speedy death-their final release:
Are we true humans? Doubts assailed my mind--
Mere mechanical toys bereft of feelings kind.
=== ==== =====
18th September, 2012 Somaseshu Gutala
References:
a) Anubis-- Egyptian god with dog's face presiding over the underworld.
b) Cerberus-- Three-headed dog guarding the underworld of Pluto, God
of the underworld in Greek mythology.
c) Sacred hounds-- Kalabhairava, the powerful aspect of Shiva,is shown
with four black hounds accompanying him. They represent f sacred Vedas, epitome of Dharma or righteousness.
