Seema (Border) Babu Model Poem by santhana louis

My military friend has taken discharge
from the uniformed services and
returned back to his home town

pension account with state bank
purchased landed assets for a lump sum
keeping a portion reserved for himself -
to start a own business, on a small scale.

several of his friends pestered him for a clean loan
with solemn promise of punctual repayment
frequent visits by very distant relatives
with unsolicited ideas for instant earnings

some agents circled him with pamphlets, attractive tables,
for rearing Emu, Goats, Milk shed, duck, chicks, & puppies
vultures closeting with the lure of very fatty interest
promises of money getting doubled every six months

my sepoy friend came running to me
to suggest a way out from all this perils
I gathered all his savings and placed them
In joint deposits with his wife & children

besides regular pension, quarterly interest comes in handy
liberal but, budgeted living, regulated spending in army canteen
consent of wife for every pay out - based on his sound background
bank assisted him to set up a stationery business,
now he is a ‘mallick' (owner)

peaceful and satisfied, the ex-BSF havildar, walks upright in full pride
no greedy desires, nor quick money ‘laluch' (temptation)
in enjoyment of faithful toil along the porous Bangla borders
sacrifices made &services rendered, in reward,
the present day status,
the entire village is proud of him,
citing ‘SEEMA BABU MODEL'.


Louis Santhana