MANTLE

 

MANTLE

 

Stopped walking, stood still now,

Crowded street, a busy city a sight,

Mid of the road, a cow collapsed,

Old enough foams of the mouth,

Lay crippled, traffic moves to the side,

Not a shred of remorse busy life,

Must be thinking, such incidents,

Frequent disturbs the flow sadly,

Under the bright sun, her looks,

Still her eyeballs, but life waiting

Skeletal sunken skins panting,

Lost energy, failed to stand attempt,

Raise the head, rest on the ground,

The scene struck me like a bolt,

Death of an animal nearer revolting,

Watched for a few moments the rush,

Living in another world partitioned,

Life expects to live for decades,

Future spirit to shape admirable,

Dreams blinded soul life is running,

Irresistible aspirations clouded neatly,

Lust for gold power position luxury,

Lovelorn cosmetic living a treasury,

Physical pleasure climax orgy vivid,

Roaming over the globe to explore,

Build dream castles plenty dismantle,

Mind made a life restless dissatisfied,

Move to achieve more work day and night,

Greed whispers there is no tomorrow,

Today and now, at this instant,

Don't look at the side that is happening,

I looked at the world, animal instinct,

They dine, drink, sleep, conjugate,

Fearful of losing amassed wealth,

Fearful, losing power, status, fame,

Fearful that family stays intact and happy,

Felt tears crushing my heart and knew,

The cow once gave liters of milk,

How many children got fed, nourished,

Must be driving their car, hoodwink,

Dark corner greedy eyes in focus,

Thinking of the skin flesh to fleece,

A cow can recover lack of food weak,

Her time to serve the people finished,

No milk fit for the slaughterhouse,

Could not stand further moved soon,

Called the nursery for cattle, in service,

Collecting street cows treating well,

Philanthropic attempt, shelter home,

Rejecting the world, elderly couples,

The burden on society age crippled many,

Children vanished like a morning mist,

Foolishly those couples prayed a lot,

Wished children grew educated,

Shouldered the burden of expenses for kids,

Grew, young spread their wings far off,

Nesting jovially, with family, busy life,

Forgotten the parental home deserted,

Parents, like the old cow, sought help,

A shelter home takes care of them,

The cattle nursery or shelter home,

Meets the mantle of humanity,

Outside the periphery of the glittery world,

Stays compassion the mantle emerald.

 

Pen: Bijayananda Mishra

Title of Poem: Mantle

Themes: Compassion takes the mantle

Written: 4th August 2023, Cuttack

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