Too many coocks...

 

Too many Cooks ...

 

Out of breath, came racing

and in one breathe told facing

my dad on my home-work lesson

teaching with force, his unwilling son

“ Hey, babu! Hey Babu! Listen to me

a rabbit in a thorny bush we could see

running to the bush near to your lands

isolated there alone it stands

Surrounded the bush with the thrill

ten are standing with sticks, to kill

once out of the bush it moves out

it will be killed without any doubt.

The rabbit is healthy and fleshy, white

surely to be tasty in the dinner to bite

It will be cooked as a dish for a dinner

Fakira swore he never committed any error

in making dishes out of forest animal

learned it while he was with his maternal uncle.

Dama has sent his brother, a younger

to bring groceries and crockeries for dinner.”

Thus converyed by Natia sent by the group

as to Dad, respected and obeyed the troupe.

My dad ran with him out of temptation

followed, I to taste the first time rabbit mutton.

Saw at the site, around the bush a dozen persons

with sticks in hand to kill the rabbit on the run

joking each other and Kashia poking the bush

with caution and care, the rabbit did push.

He was afraid of the snake's presence

Funned by all in his slow progress in annoyance.

“He is effeminate, ever under his wife’s protection,

the lady is master of the house Kasia is none.

Naria! You go, him to support to drive it out

all were impatient to kill and take credit of the bout.”

All had bambopo sticks, Ana had a wooden stick

but Fakira had in his hand from the fence a stem thick.

Stood I, enjoying the scene and conversation

that I took a long to understand on friends’ consultation.

Lo, behold! Jumped the rabbit and ran through Fakira’s leg

Broke  he his stick to his surprise, apology he had to beg.

Everyone with my Dad scolded Fakira for the fiasco

He had to accept the streams of insulting abuses flow.

“Too many cooks spoil the broth” Learnt I later

A befitting demonstration, from this, I could gather.

I saw the rabbit weighing around at best kills three

with its flesh,fifteen never could have a dinner spree.

the rabbit’s  prayer Lord listened to protect it

Sure the hungry fifteen to bite it must admit

The insufficiency in dinner and war were avoided

All including rabbit and me stayed blessed.

 

In the service of Lord

P K Routray

 

(It is a true story. Names names were of my villagers)