A Tale Retold

A Tale Retold

P K Routray

A story from a master

to glorify that truth can harm never

even when caught in a tricky situation

to protect it, if the man is bent upon.

Thus goes the story

from the hazes of my memory.

A man turned saint

with mind spiritually bent.

Two promises he had made

“Never to tell a lie even compelled.”

“None he will ever harm in life>”

under dire duress or strife.

Without bout one may jolly well exist

if a second comes there always arises a conflict

These two promises once had a conflict

intelligently man could come out of the rift.

Once in a deep forest

the man was taking rest

under a tree with a shrub of many a creeper.

He saw a running frightened deer

running for life, hid itself there for shelter

After a while saw he an armed hunter

chasing and asking the location of the deer.

Neither lie nor harm were his promises.

His answer to hunter, to us brings a surprise

“That which has seen cannot speak,

that which can speak has not seen” was the reply quick

The hunter got perplexed and was misled

the life of the deer was thus spared.

His words are true, a lie it can never be

as eyes cannot speak, nor can’t mouth see.