As I Draw A Deep Breath. Poem by Bishnupada Sethi

A few decades ago
I was a child and I remember-
How I woke up early in the morning
To the lament singing
Of a group of women
In the neighbour's house
As a female calf had died.
While sobbing badly
They were heaping all praises
Upon the dead animal
For its innocence and beautiful manners
And they were praying
To help it move
From this world to another
To the land of dead
And further
By way of rebirth
And all happier times.

On our way to the village school
There existed a vast meadow.
While passing by
The children would often sprint
A few hundred meters
To escape the stench in the air.

From a little distance
It would appear-
As if a few old ladies
Covering them with umbrella
Made of palm leaves
Are quietly collecting
Fish from the flowing rain waters.

Such was the sight of large birds
Quietly guarding the prey,
While the dogs and jackals would wait
Being pushed further away.

A large number of tiger spirited
Black vultures
Soared and floated in circles
Over the meadow.
They would sense their food.
While coming down
With all their might
They would tuck into the meal,
The bald head and neck
Making it easy.
My village was their temporary abode.


Now the old world is gone,
So the tradition of lament singing-
The modern time frowned upon.
The vultures are gone.
And gone are the carcasses.

At this time-
When the world is locked down
A gloom has descended,
A fear gripped us all.
Believe me
As I draw a deep breath,
A smell of stench-
Unnerves me.

Someone is dying.
Some are in acute pain.
There is no one to do a favour-
By lament singing.