Spiders

There were quite a few spiders
In his house—Homes for them and Webs for him.
Cozy for them and Menace for him.
One day the spiders heard buzzing.
The youngest asked,
“Grandpa, what‘s that noise”?
His wrinkled face distorted:
“There are giants all around us-our enemies.
We do not harm them, yet, they hound us out.
They, being wicked are a threat to our species.
They have enormous powers.
In one sweep they can wipe us all out”.
The young one laughed.
She knew there can be no one
More powerful than a spider.
Hasn’t their science teacher revealed all secrets
And blasted all superstitions of these old ones!
How strong are their homes!
Even a huge fly can not break them.
“Poor old superstitious grandpa-
Good at telling terrifying stories!”
Hasn’t their leader told them
Lately they are a superior race—
Born to rule the world and that
All other animals are to fear them?
Old people are always foolish—
When young they don’t listen—
When old they want every one to listen.
The buzzing grew louder.
The young one with a better sight,
Sighted the giant—he was very different from them.
Ugly, he had just four legs.
He stood on two and was holding a
Funny looking thing in the other two.
How ugly and disgusting!
He had skin of many funny colours!
She somehow sensed danger in his presence.
Shouted, “Papa, mama, grandpa! The giant is around.
What do we do? Grandpa smiled,
“I am one of those who escaped him last time.
I will see him finished now. Are we not strong?
United we stand and divided we fall!”
Experiences teach us nothing.
Papa: “Let that bastard dare touch me! I’ll tear him to pieces!
Mama had always adored her mate—how spiderly!
She smiled, “When your papa is around, no need to fear!”
“But mom, our neighbour is gone, sucked out of his home.
Look, look his home is gone too!’ the young ones shrieked.
Mom: “That’s god’s punishment for the wicked ones!
Especially that female—always proud and bragging!
They deserve this.
We don’t have to worry child!
We haven’t harmed any one—except,
Perhaps a few insects that came our way!
That too not our fault—god created us that way!”
Grandma: “Children kneel and pray”.
Grandpa said, “This home, I built with my hands;
The fruit of my hard labour. I won’t leave!
This is my home and this is my country!
We have to guard them with our lives.
Children teach that brute a lesson!”
The old spiders got ready to fight.
When the buzzing neared, some
Young ones chickened out, ran and jumped out.
“Cowards!” shouted a valorous one.
In a whiz the spiders were gone.
Those who escaped hid to tell the story
Of the giant to their future progeny
And to brag how they escaped the giant
And how they could outwit fate with their wit.
 

Mohanram.K

  Friday, January 13, 2006