The Goatherd's Song Poem by Raj Arumugam

In these rocky hills
and hard mountains
a goatherd is happiest
with his goats, the dog
and his timely lunch

It may start cool
and reach peaks of heat
but there's always shade
under the rocks where
each can rest or sleep

Here one sings
as badly as one can,
as profanely as one wants -
with a choir of goats
and a disgruntled dog
barking disapproval
(and one can still feel good
about one's rough vocals)

Here one need not worry:
one has all the time;
there's no human tongue
that complains or commands
And as the sun descends
one ambles home
where dinner's on the table


In these rocky hills
and hard mountains
a goatherd is happiest
with his goats, the dog
and his timely lunch