Lion's Share Poem by Prafulla Kumar Panda

Like an eclipsed moon
she rues and sheds tear
crouching in a dingy corner
when on her head a bunch of black clouds hover

the house which a name unfolds
and an identity upholds
now from its centre four walls are erected-
of hate and jealousy,
apathy and hostility…
which have deformed her mansion
which she once built on firm pillars-
of love and affection,
trust and compassion…

being stripped off all gratitude
now she is like a tree
that has borne a terrible lookmarred and forsaken,
after the heavy spell of a tempest

they quarrel for the lion's sharefor land and gold which they greedily stare
and least they understand of her care
but split apart her humane heart
when they treat her like a mere guest
to visit their quarters once or twice in a year
only for a morsel of food
she's to barter her love with her sons

until the eleventh dayalong with their father's dead body
they buried their all animosity
and all the lure of riches there by
but the gap widened afterward,
as if the roof on their head has collapsed
giving way to their suspicion to hate
each other
using the sharp teeth of treachery and shame

crestfallen, now she looks at her hubby's portrait
and silently murmurs:
'when I am alone and bereft of a role
hey! lift me up and let me mingle with thy soul'.

©Prafulla Panda, India.
All rights reserved.