It was at a local fundraising banquet
The challenge to prove our manhood was set.
To capture the majesty of the jungle, our goal
In a hostile world with people as dark as coal.
We reached our destination in a sea-faring trip
Along with our dreams, each one carried a grip
With a guide we were forced to hire
We sat for dinner around the jumping bonfire.
Around those sparkling flames
We played those childish games
Singing and dancing merrily
Without a care for the tomorrow, that we would see.
The menagerie that this jungle held
Kept our aspirations to return home quelled.
Soon the sandman, who we had so long defied,
Entered as the last glowing ember died.
The slithering of snakes, ruckus of the jungle and the tropical sun
Heralded our start for some gamely fun.
With magazines, cartridges and guns on our shoulders
We crept silently from bogs to plains and around boulders.
Then we heard that majestic earth shattering roar
As our target preyed on an unsuspecting boar.
The sweat on us sizzled under the hot copper sun
Soon we realized, hunting no longer was simple fun.
Each step taken was a big accomplishment now
As our kill thought for more prey to catch and how.
I stuck out my saliva dripping finger
To find where the wind would linger,
Soon heavy tropical clouds hid our ultimate source of light
And wished all our halcyon thoughts “Good Night”.
Our hunting cur fled on hearing a sly hiss.
I still ponder if he survived death’s kiss.
The jungle soon treated us as its enemy
As if we were here to change here destiny.
The jungle slandered us with a bouquet of hisses, howls, squeaks and a growl
But this ain’t a game that I could cry ‘foul’
Soon the gloomy and solemn night prevailed
And the thunderous wind galled.
I sat keeping a solitary watch
Gazing at the scores of eyes that reflected the rays of my torch.
The bitter cold and unwelcome guests bit me everywhere,
I let them at their work without care.
These were minute matters for me
For long ‘fore, I had struck by thorns and an old bee.
Next day, we started with a reputation at stake
And an aim to prove, hunting here wasn’t a piece of cake.
We spent a minute in remembrance
Of a friend who fought till he lost his last sense.
Those pythons had been at work
Killing him might have presented them nature’s perk.
We soon set up with guns and determination
Food and water though it was in ration.
Wolves and rats played games in me
Nothing satisfied them, even two sips of tea.
We trekked, trekked and trekked on and on
And the only relief was a poor little fawn.
We roamed round and round
Until our original start point we found.
Tropical disease struck the cashier whose mouth was full of puss
We couldn’t help him for our own energy was ebbing away from us.
Realizing our diminishing luck, we decided to pack
But nature hadn’t finished, it kept us back.
A tribal saved that petite cashier
But not before filling us with nature’s fear
We held our noses high with pride
Even higher, than a man show-offing his newly wed bride.
Deciding to proceed with the hunt
This time we put our best foot front.
Filled with humongous portions of delicacies at the village
We continued for our prey with full rage.
The jungle had become a bit kinder than before
But she still held contempt in her heart’s core.
We had started with a merry party of five
Now only four survive.
Knowing our purpose, the villagers showered us with praises
For his majesty had killed all but that solitary cow that grazes.
The cowardish villagers had shunned the outside world
The only sign of bravery was the leopard skin that lay furled.
They were excited and scared on seeing humans in alien clothes
As if landmarks, they visited us in hordes.
We followed the South wind for a day
And soon were on the trails of our prey.
While in search of clues, I had wounded my knee
But we went on, with carcasses being our success’s key.
Our parched throats taxed the nature’s pond by drinking away litres
But were soon stopped by a roar, away by about few metres.
We were wonderstruck by the charm of our misery’s cause
But took cover, before it marked us with its paws.
The cashier aimed and shot
While the rest ran to the booty we had caught.
The King tried to give a fight
After all, even in his death, he was packed with might.
We had returned from the land of sun kissed faces
And back in our normal paces.
Our victory was talk of town
Oh! It was wonderful to see those cowards frown.
This is the history of that lion rug
Which still gives my heartstrings a tug.
The frightful lion trophy stares at me
“Nature will have the last laugh,” says he.
Background: Dug this outta the archive. Wrote this a day before my Science exam during boards in 10th Standard (March 2002). Now you know what I was doing ;) Just got the flow and then decided to stop at 100 lines and hence my first centopoem (cent-o-pom)
Vickypedia quote: "Exams bring the best out of you - out of the hall that is."
