Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A Rhapsody on Street Dogs





                             


                                                     A Rhapsody on Street Dogs


                                 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!

                               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.
                                                             
                                                                 

   
                       
             

    
                         
                         
                   
                       
                       

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