Near his tea estate quarter
There were dragonflies few
The child often tried to catch them
Magically his fancy they drew
in their flowered courtyard
He ran behind them many a day
But not even a tip of finger
On one of them could lay!
Many are seen
hovering about
in the local primary school ground
but with so many children
running around, playing around
It was lovely to see them but
he could not grip those creatures
though he tried. The winged devils were
too furtive for his
tender features!
That day before school, the child
Walked through workers’ residence
In small steps, past the small village church
Across the open garden’s iron gate, fence
Into the endless, trimmed tea bushes
Into the haven of dragonflies multitude
The innocent heart was thrilled to find them
He went about his wish, filled
with gratitude.
But in the realm of his pure revelry
An eerie sound floated to his ears
An echo of distant howling
That shook his heart with fears
A humming like faraway siren
A croon of ghosts who match their voice
With blowing winds in wood
And wild sounds of their choice!
The boy turned, ran back to the lines
He felt something following behind.
He didn’t look back, not once!
He didn’t have a wishing mind
He stopped only when he stepped
Into his familiar home compound
Far from the wild and the haunted
Evergreen but ghostly ground!
It could have ended in tragedy
In injury or even in death
For prowling animals hide in bushes
Awaiting some tender breath!
A goat or a lamb is the best flesh
For a sumptuous satisfying lunch
But if no animal is near their teeth
A little human is ok for a munch!
Protected by his guardian angel
Was the child, believes the scribe
As he pens these words finds he
Many were the threats
to his life
For from the jaws of death he returned
To tell the story of his redemption
In His mercy and love, the Father
Always made a filial exemption!
Xavier Bage
Fri, May 19, 2017
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