Magu Mallik

Magu Mallik

On my scan
over my lifespan
in humility, I conclude
none I can exclude
from among those
to me, who came close
and propelled me to perform
planting in me wisdom in some form
so to whom I must pay my gratitude
maybe it is of varying magnitude
as some tower over the rest
but all occupy my heart’s crest.
Urged by my inner call
to begin with, bow them, I, to all
from living to non-living
from plants to the human being
poor or rich, mighty or meek
in power and prosperity, strong or weak.
Deserted many, their mortal wears
leaving me grieved to sigh with tears
To them, my gratitude I could not convey
nor to them my apology I could display
on my omissions and commissions
and failure to adhere to their missions.
Comprehended then I never
to lose them so soon forever
Searching for words to express
lost, I had many opportunities in the process.
The burden of these thoughts’ rampage
was too much to bear at this age.
Search I earnestly some ways
to express what my heart says
that gratitude to them I must convey
apologizing for my lapses and delay.
Hence, this, I pen, my tribute to pay
dwelling on Magu Mallik’s role play
in my life as an aid to me since infancy
as his service and presence, still, I fancy.
Stretch I, my vision
on Magu as a person.
Him as my memory can hold
a person around sixty years old
grey-haired, half-clad loving eyed
bare bodied, foot wears he never tried,
Unaware of letters to read, numbers to count
only knew up to twenty to ascertain an amount
Reminisce I my joy ride
cherishing his every stride
on up-and-down terrain
and grassy marshy roads on plain
sitting over his shoulder right
gripping the hair on his head tight
moved in my childhood days
across muddy, sandy, watery ways
covering miles a few during a day
conversing with him on the way.
Continued it till I am five years or so
then my siblings repeated the show.
On my way to a school higher
to a city being its border
my luggage he used to carry
leading me to a bus stop in a hurry
lest I may miss the bus to my destination
continued it till I joined a job upon graduation.
his queries, answers, and advice on the way
introducing me to birds, animals in the play,
plants creepers flowers, we came across,
the causes of a farmer’s plight and loss
enriched me beyond my curricula covered
as the facts, his experiences have discovered.
His daily wage was a fraction of a rupee
I had never seen him grumbling on that plea.
Lost he his wife at an early age
when his two sons were in an infancy stage
From us a mile away
he had his hut to stay
along with his animals' pet
those supplemented his pocket.
Palm leaves over his hut’s rooftop
mud walls and bamboo as a prop
Falls it down by storm and flood
rebuilt by him again with leaf and mud.
Used he to insects’ bite
and slept soundly at night
because of hard labor in the field
and at home extra effort for extra yield
making fishing traps and knitting mats
beautiful were his rain protective hats.
He had from his community, his, five neighbors
like him, all worked in the field as laborers to labor.
Rising before the dawn
he set his activities on
hens, goats cows to be fed
upkeeping of his hut and their shed
crafting his handicrafts in progress
as the only time for him,, to process
is late night and early morning
as he had no time left for such an earning.
His breakfast and lunch were rice water
prepared from the rice cooked for dinner
Forest leaves tasting sour serves as a side dish
or from the field the netted fresh or dry fish.
Worked he as labor for his master dear
daily from dawn to dusk around the year
discharging all menial works, home to the field
in hot sun stormy rain freezing winter for the yield.
For his ill health, he never fussed
on traditional advice he had trust.

Beyond one hundred years, with health lived he

for his daily chore any aid none could see

For health care, it, the modern world should nurture

Magu had a life, worry-free life with nature

His light was sunlight or flame of fire
Leaves were his rain shed and wintry attire
weaved coconut leaves making his cool summer bed
His only fear was jackals snatching a hen a goat, he bred.
Compared with others he never.
Never complained he ever

on his wretched woeful life
on his struggle and strife,
contributing his efforts, mighty
to upkeep the society
by the sweat of his brow,.
To him, gratitude definitely all we owe.
Hey Magu Mallik, you I bow

with folded hands bent knee lying low.

P K Routray
In the service of the Lord