THE STREET DOG UNDER THE TREE

From the  mansion across the road raced  boys  three
Towards the pathetic creature under the tree
Who was worried about the pain in his  legs. 
His friend in the palace  across the road
Said may be it was the onset of gout. 
What was this gout all about?
He was  in doubt
Was there something like canine gout?
He would  ask his friend in that palace  across the road
What this gout was all about.

 The boys were running towards him, yeah
They were coming his way to play
Yipee
He was filled with glee.
Three pairs of loving hands cuddled 
The  animal who under the tree huddled.

Hang on, there was a twist in this tale
They tied a long chain of crackers to his  tail
And lit it , clapping  in pure glee
As the dog hobbled away screaming in agony 
Toward another  shady tree.

" Let the kids play
It is after all Deepawali day."
Remarked a passing man
When a woman
 Reprimanded the three boys.
"Why grudge them these infantile joys
These trinkets and toys?"


A lone tear fell down his  eye 
And he  stifled that incipient sigh
And limped and sat down under the  tree.
An unkempt and shriveled up beggar old hobbled 
On the street cobbled
Heading towards the mongrel under the tree.

A dirty and gnarled hand
 He soothingly laid on the dog's leg.
But his leg pained too, ah how it pained.
Then the pathetic two
Against a backdrop of a glittering curtain of blue
Clung to each other. 
The man burst into a song
 Ah such a sad song .
Sounds of "pagal hai"ricocheting  in his mind.
He sighed  ah, why were people so unkind.

A spooky moon cruised along
Pricked up its silver  ears 
And listened to the loon's song.
As the dog and the man cuddled closer, nose to snout
Maybe they were clearing their doubt 
About what  this gout was all about.