The Exorcist..! Poem by Vidya Pandarinath

In the chosen corner of seclusion
Chanting resonant incantations in reclusion
Mincing the red calcified turmeric
With her left hand uttering words of magic
The sorceress sprayed a fistful
On the possessed girl who sat in a pose wistful;
Smoke rose like a spirit and diffused leeward
Changing shapes and symbols wayward
Over the head of the helpless victim,
Commanded to keep up the posture prim;
Shining sweat gathered on the former's face
Laced with red and patterned ash trace;
With a stiff body and a louder scream
And a swathful of branches of neem
She patted flat on the other's head,
And sprinkled powders white and red;
While the latter begin to swing,
As if controlled by the spirit on the wing
And stopped stiffly as the other did flick
Her body with a crooked snake-like stick
Uttering eerie words with a horrible sound,
As others stood in reverence, and spell-bound;
The powered one instantly sprang
And wrenching, danced wildly and wrang;
The timid onlookers were awed and cowed,
Helplessly baffled at the screech loud;
The old magician swiped her back
Bringing off a scorpion, big and black
Which evidently had stung her with venom pack;
Wriggling, yelping, she rolled on the ground
Her hands and legs turning on pivot round;
The rest were gasping, bewildered and shocked
With her subject like an exorcised spirit
Neared her to pacify with words albeit
A little kid, hardly a lad, in playful mood
Darted across and with neat fingers two,
Held the fierce intruder by tail without ado;
He enjoyed it with an open mouthed grin
And waved his little body with a victor's win;
Concern made the anxiety- favoured few,
Rush the convulsing hag for treatment due.