Apocalypse Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The last surviving member
Of the West African Black Rhinoceros
Stood alone in dense Cameroonian forest.
Her mate died just a few days back
After he was shot by the two-legged beasts.
They deftly removed both his horns
Using their hatchets sharp.

After all their kith and kin were killed
Just the two of them remained
He was gripped by deathly dread
And forced her to flee to the inner forests
From the thinner outer woods
So the gun-wielding two-legged beasts
Shall not find them.

In the new place, he was always moody
May be, in memory of all those dead and gone
May be, he was not free from the grip of fear yet.
Summer gave way to rains abundant.
As fresh green leaves sprouted all over the forest
Slowly he regained his original charm;
Fragrance of the spring filled the air with romance.

When he was shot, he had cried,
'Escape! You've to care for our child! '

Now the dark clouds are gone, but not her fears
Incessant heavy rains have eased, not her tears
Sun's shining, but not her tiny inept eyes
Food was abundant, but she had lost her hunger;
Weather was lovely, but she'd lost her love
Life was precious, but no longer for her.
Even the tiny little life inside her mattered no longer.

She just awaited the inevitable.