My mother left food,
For the stray dog.
Not the left-out food,
For the stray dog.
Thanking fate,
Wagging tail,
Emptied plate,
Without fail.
The dog in turn
And in return,
Safeguarded her,
Escorted her.
From the bus stop,
To the house.
And to the bus stop,
From the house.
For small little food,
The dog always stood.
In times of need,
Like a true friend indeed.
The dog was human,
More than the human.
Pure than purity, Symbolizing humanity.
Never the dog failed,
To come out in favour. Never the dog failed,
To bark at troubling neighbour.
Agitated neighbours, Complained about the dog.
The authorities arrived, And captured the dog.
Dragged the dog,
Into the open van.
Barking stray dog,
Resisted and ran.
My mother rushed
Hearing dog’s pain, Helpless dog looked,
At my mother in vain.
The van with the dog,
Left the street gate.
My mother cried,
Looking at the plate.
Now this story,
Turned history.
Now that dog is no more And my mother is no more.
Remained memories of sanity.
Invaluable lessons of purity.
Lifetime treasures of sanctity,
And traces of humanity.