Selfish Man

My Cherished Memory

(2)

Selfish Man

P K Routray

It was a gloomy day

with a dull morning, over cast sky.

Feeling an inner turmoil and restlessness

searched I the sight of the mongoose, them to redress.

Caught its sight, waiting to cross the road

as it was aware of the unruly traffic load.

It had seen the road as just a walking lane

amidst bushes and shrubs never trodden in rain,

from a narrow lane it has become a black top road

from occasional pedestrians to fast plying vehicular load,

from silent passersby to roaring stream of machine propelled traffic

from lush dense bushes to balding shrubs looking sick.

The growth of civilization of human race and the process

that took toll of rest of the creation to which it was the witness.

It moved so far with care ensuring its safety to the best of its ability.

But this time the density of traffic was too much, its patience could not stand it.

To reach the bushes existing the other side of the road to answer some urgent need

an impulsive run it made across the road, to the unruly traffic across it did not heed

To my utter shock it came under a speeding motor cycle with a reckless rider

an iconic representation of present humanity who runs for self without bothering for the others.

The mongoose lay wounded with blood oozing out of its mouth, nose and ear.

Rushed we few to the spot hoping if we could save the mongoose my dear.

Alas! Nothing we could do as it had breached its last under the wheel of civilization

It had no fault except neing a beast of forest, inferior to man in intelligence in comparison.

People sighed, sympathized, preached philosophies and then vanished on their way

Its clan and family members watching from a distance out of fear must have fled away.

I was a mute witness to the murder of my love, the mongoose.

To its discarded body I saluted and with due respect put in a grave inside a bush.

Human civilization is wheeling forth crushing many a mongoose under its wheel

But my love for this mongoose always tortures me and selfish is the man that I feel.

(It is the second part of MY Cherished Memory posted on 17^th August.)