The Winter Blues
K. Radhakumar *
On several occasions
The protagonist of the story saves himself
From the jaws of death –
In actuality, the protagonist is a rat!
Who likes to die young?
One should have time to appreciate
The meaning of life
Before one is dead and gone.
Easily said than done.
On one occasion
A black snake was after him
To devour him alive.
He felt his end
The ugly monster had come
And therefore, ran for his life.
In this world, dear friend,
There is nothing more fearful
Than the reality of death
The unwelcome visitor.
Yet again
He could almost feel death
When a hawk from nowhere
Swooped down on him.
Nobody knows
How one saved oneself;
He found himself hiding
In a dark corner of his mansion
The narrow tunnel beside the bamboo grove.
The rat is old now.
His eyesight is failing;
No music soothes him
For he is stone deaf.
Health and happiness –
Everything has evaporated
Like snowflakes in the sunshine
Without him realising it.
All sweet things are leaving him
And he feels death will be sweeter than life:
'I will not run away from it now.'
'I wish!'
* Poem written by K. Radhakumar which was published at The Sangai Express
This poem was webcasted on July 02, 2018.
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