He Poem by Ravi Panamanna

(Here is a poem of a person who appears as a fake witness to sign documents for one and two bucks in a sub-registrar office. We usually confront with such all pervading fake witnesses in a court and a registrar's office. I have actually seen the person about whom I describe in this poem. In a way, such persons need sympathy from the society) .

I saw him there-
A torn frame,
A skeleton
In rugged dress,
Wrinkles visiting his cheeks.

I saw him there-
In sunken eyes
Searching, praying,
Dreaming and
Looking for a prey.

I saw him there-
On that Sub-Registrar office verandah.
He was the breath of its air.
The all pervading fake witness
Of paltry one and two bucks.

I saw him there-
With hands on cheeks
Elbow on the knees
Muttering, stammering, and
Eagerly waiting.

And he will go on waiting
Till the end of the world.
And will breathe his last
With a dimeless pocket-
Torn and unstitched,
Worn and swallowed by seasons.
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24/12/1993