As a child, he was probably religious.
The food, the stories, they got better
inside a temple. Now, he enjoys all
the perverts in the Hindu pantheon.
Even more.
Near the ruins, he meets this obsessive
squirrel. He’s reminded briefly, of Rama.
Of a hand that glided over the back of
the creature, to leave permanent marks.
He looks around to see the other men.
Perhaps the ones she touched have
similar bands on them. But she isn’t
much like Rama. For starters, she has
no brother.
The squirrel chases him, somewhat like
a temple monkey. Having lost faith in
gods, he now only believes in myths.
Perhaps she was the one who really
touched this animal.
—-
What a belligerent squirrel! It positively glowers. The poem may well have been different if the pesky squirrel wasn’t glowering so. Nice one, Neha.
Oh- I saw a bright, alert squirrel, not a belligerent one. I’ve always loved squirrels. Your protagonist seemed terribly paranoid, poor soul.
Neha,
I love this poem. It inspired me to to scribble this following “muse.” I hope you won’t mind this bit of an indulgence in your comment space.
The squirrel responds:
As a squirrel-child, I was that squirrel. Many patted on my back, marking me forever with their impressions. Seeing these bands, some abandoned me, a few others squeezed me into their band, some more looked at me, as if asking me, “What a glowering squirrel…?” Now she comes along, writes a poem about me, saying I am religious, saying I am no Rama, saying I chased, like a monkey. Morsels of fresh “pulihora”…that uncanny smell…that yellow-green rice pockmarked with black black things…people swallow in one gulp, like the myths they swallowed, when they were little child. Whoever asked Rama to lay his curse on us species…? What right he had, to brand me, that self-consuming egotist…! Now everyone wants to caress me. Like I am a myth, harmless, life-less, time-less, soul-less. The burden of these bands is too much to bear. Perhaps She can really touch this animal, and make these marks disappear. Then, may be then, scales will fall off this Hindu pantheon perversion.
Regards, Crazyfinger
Hey Crazyfinger- what an awesome response!
Lailta: To be honest, while it does look belligerent, I believe the poor little thing was only hungry. :) And small as they are, it does get scary when they go about chasing you!
dipali: I love squirrels. Something so beautiful about them no? But if you had been chased by those squirrels – I believe some of the virtues you so lovingly tag on to them may have diminished!
Crazyfinger: That little squirrel needs a microphone – so we can all hear it out better. :)
Having lost faith in
gods, he now only believes in myths.
me like this one & the halwa one too :)