A Book From The Dumps Poem by Somanathan Iyer

Frequented hardly by any
there exists a shed in our backyard
desolate and unattended
dark it is even in the noon
dumped there unevenly
all the things not in use
living there without rent
wasps centipedes spiders and scorpions
a book of mine awarded as prize
found its place a midst the waste
may be it is dear to me
not to the maid who laid it there
with a powerful torch
proceeded I to retrieve the book
from among the dumps
hardly I entered in greeted me
giant webs woven all along the room
pulling them apart sat I on my heels
near the box sealed with books
reluctantly with shivering hands
I pulled up the lid only to
close it back with devilish force
creeping inside were group
of centipedes big and small
settled in the box virtually
with no fear from any
right behind to me I heard
a growl from among the debris
turning around I saw
to my horror a bandicoot
as big as a fat cat
looking at me menacingly
as if I disturbed its peace
in a single leap out I came
alighting from the room
summoned I two workers
to clean up the shed
and reclaim my book