THE SIXTH FINGER

   

                                          

    

1)              Unwanted member of this world

                 Unrecognized part of  this society

                 Somehow emerged upstart in curious shape

                 A supernumerary burden

                 Mocked at and spurned by everyone

                 Questioning its unwarranted existence.

                 Is this protuberance, a lucky sign?

                 An emblem of the angelic soul on the earth?

                 Like fabled giant race of Ecuador

                 Or polydactyl figures carved in petroglyphs

                 What purpose to this ugly misshapen form

                 Who made this vain meddlesome shape?

                 A superfluous outgrowth with no specific goal                               

 2)              A freak experiment by Nature done

                  An unusual effort with no obvious aim

                  To show her art at abnormal level

                  An intruding link in Nature’s plan

                  Going out of order with clue not given;

                  But not of any use except to show

                  Nature’s unpredictable shaping skills

                  The sixth finger, a specimen strange

                  A failed experiment beyond our range

                  Nature’s prank challenging logic blind.

 3)              No part to play except to show mere presence

                  To show Nature’s unique deviating ways

                  Unforeseen changes and diversities

                  Like bizarre modern surrealistic works

                  With multi-layered meanings hidden;    

                  May be a warning sign exhorting crazy man

                  Who plays with Nature’s ways and means

                  To shape unnatural odd things around

                  To obstruct natural flow of things and turn

                  Men to mere sixth-finger statured level.

      Note:  
               Giant race -- refers to Waorani tribe in Ecuador who have six fingers and toes. They were known for their immense strength and violent nature. In ancient culture there was a belief that persons born with six fingers were bound to be successful.

             Petroglyphs --- The Pueblo people living in New Mexico had six fingers. The rock carvings in New Mexico shows people with six fingers in both hands. The Pueblo people living in Chaco Canyon (new mexico) had six fingers. In South America there was a tribe called Ugha Mongualala who believed that gods visited the earth every six thousand years. In tales they are described with light skin, thick beard and had six fingers and six toes. The six fingers are associated with something divine and spiritual.

          Petroglyphs -- rock carvings are seen in New Mexico in places like Cave of the Giant Sloth in Chili and in Indian Creek State Park.              

       

          Polydactyle --- having extra fingers.This symptom is called Polydactyly.g          this is derived from two Greek words; Poly means "many" and Daktylos means "finger."

         Sixth finger statured level -- means merely a position with no prominent role.

                              

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     13th March, 2020                                                 Somaseshu Gutala