My Simple Lion

My Simple Lion

Raju, was the pet name of my simple lion Charles Richardson .Christened after the famed officer ,who liberated him from his mother’s arm, and left him alone to cherish his hard found freedom.

Really? I don’t know.

Who am I to question my commander.

“He must be right.”

“Am I too timid to reason?

Or am I just like Him?”

The liberated cub was brought to our camp-

They tried to teach him habits,

prevalent in the civilized world of ours.

They planned,

to make that child a gentleman.

They chained him ,

to make their motives clear,

They used hunter-

(on my child) to instill fear.

They barred the sun,

from entering my child’s eyes.

They stopped the air,

from drying my child’s tears.

Every night after 10,

I sat near him.

I tried removing his fear,

I tried cloaking memories,

of his mother so dear.

One beautiful morning,

when the officer’s daughter

was playing near my cub,

somehow, a drop of red blood appeared-

on Her soft white hand.

Officer,infuriated by my Raju’s playful act,

shot three rounds straight,

showcasing his skill at last.

Again something red appeared,

“But I was not sure of it’s identity.”

Was it some wine,

 that my commander drink,

Or was it something,

 that my mind wasn’t allowed to think.

My child didn’t even groan.

And I wasn’t able to moan,

by the fear so great,

That I allowed my son to become

my officer’s bait.

-R.PRAKASH