G U A R D Poem by RAVIKIRAN ARAKKAL

He stood still for a long time,
Open the barricade
For incoming vehicles,
Saluted the superiors cintinuously,
In the forest coffe estate,
At night sat alone,
In the cubicle made for him,
Thinking of his predecessor,
Who was thrown to death
By a vising wild elepahant,
How he sat still when it visited again,
Shivering with fright,
But it returned after hooting
In a shrilling blood curdling
Sound that can be heard for miles,
Making to return to his home
Far a long away,
Yet his monthly emoluments
For his big family
Do what all ha to do,
Life looked peaceful, but eerie
At other times, stillness
Cooing of birds, running rabbits
Giving him company,
He smile all the while pleasantly
Ignored by the incoming
Persons, staff of his estate,
But his soul was a lovely one
Which very few stopped to think about.

Ravikiran Arakkal