From Lamb to Wolf (Poem)

    From Lamb to Wolf

K V Dominic

How happy and jolly was the house when he was born!

Waves of merriment flowed to roofs and echoed

Birds and animals welcomed him

with hilarious twitters, bleats and moos

Stars and planets showered him all blessings

He was as charming as the rising sun

His first birthday was festivity for the entire village

Just as a lamb he played with domestic animals

Eyeing him was an experience of bliss

He was extra smart and intelligent at school and college

He was darling of all—Hindus, Muslims, Christians,

low caste, high caste, rich and poor

Was a wonder to teachers who foresaw him as scientist

Won M Tech with first rank from IIT

Offers of high pay jobs came from different firms

Alas, immersing all in seas of tears

he absconded one night with little trace to follow

Phoned his mother a week after, announcing that

he prefers to serve God than human beings

And he would never come back home

Learnt that he was enchanted by terrorists

Two months later came the saddest news

He was bombed and killed at the battlefield

His house became hell of wails and mourns

Birds and animals made doleful cries

Isn’t service to man service to God?

Isn’t service to animals and plants service unto Him?

Doesn’t God the Father love all His children—

humans, non humans, plants and

universe with discrimination to none?

How can God, epitome of love, be pleased

by violence and bloodshed in His name?

All reactions:

25Biswanath Kundu, Madhu S and 23 others

Pricking Questions from the Grandson (Poem)

Pricking Questions from the Grandson

K V Dominic

My little grandson toddling

on front yard of my house

seems to prick me with

questions one after another

Grandpa, what have you left

for me or my siblings to be born?

Polluted is air I breathe

and toxic is food you serve me

Your parents bequeathed you

pure sky and virgin soil

They weren’t selfish

and were thoughtful

of their descendants

How can I survive here?

Too hot is the sun

Electricity fails very often

Swarm of mosquitoes

disturb my quiet slumber

Instead how happy

was your childhood!

If temperature thus

soars year after year

how much more I have to

bear till I reach my youth

middle age and old age?

I have only begun my voyage

And miles to go to reach

my unknown terminus

I even doubt how long

I can row my boat

against huge tsunamis

rushing to gulp me

How fortunate you are

as your parents were!

Unlike your humane parents

your generation proved inhuman

and mercilessly exploited

the bounties of this planet

and drank to the lees

not leaving anything

for our generation’s survival.