Saga of the Stray

April 11, 2013

Saga of the Stray

I saw a weary dog on the street today
A new puppy had been born to the stray
It had just opened it’s big eyes to see
Everything around him and me
I looked at it and gave a smile
But it’s body was still pale and fragile
 

Soon he began to roam on the streets
Without road noises his day was incomplete
The pup grew to love his surroundings
Bricks and car tyres were his new findings
The passersby fascinated him beyond measure
He held on to everything like treasure
 

One day the pup saw another like him
It’s fur, brushed properly and trim
It was being walked by a posh human owner
While the stray pup looked on, like a loner
The sight of the rich dog made him sad
For he was not just as royally clad
 

His spirit was uplifted by his mothers presence
From her, he had learnt life’s hardest lessons
The stray decided to not lose grit or heart
For no force on earth could set them apart
No matter how badly destiny treated them
They had the will to overcome every problem
 

However, one morn, he woke up all alone
Nothing was with him except a leftover bone
His mother had fled far and away
With the pup, forever, she had not wished to stay
Tears of sorrow flowed like a stream
The pup whimpered, but wished to scream
 

The dog had to now endure reality’s harsh blows
He was free; yet insecure feelings in him arose
Survival became challenging and was no longer a game
His lack of skills put himself to shame
He knew not how to procure water or food
About his misery he began to brood
 

He has been hungry since the past few days
Of his life, this definitely is the worst phase
Starvation and thirst weakened his bones
Everybody ignored his insufferable moans
He wished he could find a loving home
Humans he could finally call his own
 

No matter how hard he tried to please
The people on the streets in their fancy Capri’s
Nobody looked at him more than twice
Their cold stares, to stop his barks, would suffice
His filthy fur and unkempt looks
Could not get him on anybody’s good books
 

Little boys mercilessly threw stones at him
To properly stand, he soon became unfit
His appalling appearance drew girls away
They detested dogs that were dirty and stray
Adults ignored and walked past the dog
Some shoved him away like a petty log
 

The little dogs big heart began to break
So much rejection he could not take
Was he not fit to be someone’s pet?
About his plight, he began to fret
His body was overpowered by hunger and pain
He was physically incapable of tolerating such strain
 

Eventually his remorse turned into hate
He has been cruelly treated by fate
No longer would he be kind to the human race
He wished to see them tremble at the sight of his face
Humans must pay for the dog’s misery
He was unwilling to undergo more drudgery
 

He barked fiercely at every passerby
Growled enough to force children to cry
Bit at the ankles of every little boy
Human skin and bones he ventured to destroy
He was feared by the entire neighborhood
Yet no person, from any home, gave him food
 

Hunger made the dog more savage
He began to live on bits of garbage
Loneliness slowly demented his mind
He nursed an insatiable animosity towards mankind
He lost no opportunity to torture them
Soon enough, his existence in society, became a problem

One night in his sleep the dog was injected
From this world he was meant to be ejected
He was put under the mercy of a cruel vet
The dog, it’s life’s end, soon met
That was the end of the stray dog’s story
Devoid of any type of glamour or glory
 

Hence, yet another animal, succumbs to human pressure
Just to make our society more healthier and fresher
This dog’s death acts as an open testimony
Of human cruelty and our hidden hypocrisy
When are we going to reveal our true selves?
But we, always in our ego, choose to dwell
 

The more we attempt to preserve nature
The more we are seen murdering every other creature
We say all animal lives are valuable
Yet beat them down as though they are malleable
We set up sanctuaries and zoos for them to live
But more harassment to them we give
 

We try to exhibit our false love towards wildlife
But easily watch animals be slaughtered by the knife
We import exotic dogs from around the world
For us, our indigenous species appear absurd
While on the street we flaunt our ‘foreign treasure’
Strays experience grief on an intensity hard to measure
 

Population of strays in Bangalore increase by the day
Their wildness causes great human dismay
Our mistreatment is the sole cause of their plight
Hence they have become sources of fright
It is lack of our love that makes them wild
When will we stop making them feel exiled?
Compassion, after all, can tame them in a profound way
And we can soon rewrite the saga of the stray
 

 

Dalia Saldanha Archives:

 

 

By Dalia Jane Saldanha
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Comment on this article

  • Jessy & Elias, Udupi / Jeddah

    Mon, Apr 15 2013

    Hey Dalia, keep going, we really like your poems.God Bless You!

  • santosh, kaup/dubai

    Sun, Apr 14 2013

    Dalia you've written this beautifull well done keep it up.

  • Jawar D'Souza, Doha/M'lore

    Sat, Apr 13 2013

    Dear Dalia really brillant I think you might have put in a lot of effort to get the rhymes. You have narrated a true story which we humsn beings taken pride in doing. We rule the world it must suit our taste if not we are willng to change it. Keep up the good work may God Bless you.

  • L. Andrade, Mangalore / Bangalore

    Sat, Apr 13 2013

    Dalia, A wonderful poem indeed! Thanks so much for sharing it on Daijiworld.com. I am delighted to also read the heartfelt thoughts or experiences shared expressed by each of the commentators on your splendid Poem.

    I am an avid Animal lover myself. I have made so many Stray Canine Friends on my way to work and back and it is such a joy to see them greeting me. Not a single day passes without me having a conversation with these Beautiful Creatures even if they might be at a busy traffic signal or on the road. I carry some biscuits or bread with me almost everyday to feed them. In case I have not got anything with me on a particular day, I just stop by in front of them and say I am sorry, I couldn't bring anything for you today. Though there might be a pinch of sadness in their innocent faces, they are back with their cute smile and wagging tail the next moment!

    There are several other touching and memorable experiences shared with several Stray Animals, especially Dogs and I will always believe that it is wise to go to any length to help an Animal in need rather than humans who are opportunists waiting to stab you, the moment they receive a favor from you. I say so because of experience.

    All dogs go to heaven because, unlike people, dogs are naturally good and loyal and kind - Whippet Angel

    Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in - Mark Twain

    Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole - Roger Caras

  • Edward R. Monteiro, Kulshekar, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 12 2013

    BSB, Amchi Mumbai: You are absolutely correct that human beings are ungrateful and selfish. The dogs are always faithful and they do not betray you when they are showen love and care. You show them love and care only once, and still they never forget and betray. They show their affection in return and each of them is unique by themselves. It is remarkable to see how they greet you when you come home and even stray dogs show their his affection if you have shown affection to them once.
    On the contrary, you help and show all the love, care and concern to your fellow human beings specially when they are in dire need of help and that will be forgotten at the earliest. It is presumed by them that it is their right to get all these things. This is my experience in life specially during the last 20 years. How dirty, wicked and selfish human beings are! Do you agree with me?

  • Tony Crasta, Mangalore/Sydney

    Fri, Apr 12 2013

    Beautifully crafted and narrated poem, Dalia - brilliant work - you have an excellent future. Keep going. Very touching indeed, as Patricia said.

    I too am fond of animals, especially the dogs and cattle, and this poem brought back so many sweet and sore memories of my own experience with them in the past.

    Everyone should take note of the message (and follow as well) conveyed in the poem, especially the last stanza.

    Remember, after all, animals also are just like human beings, and they react and/or respond simply according to how we treat or look after them.

  • ashwin colaco, mangalore/ global citizen

    Fri, Apr 12 2013

    Wonderful....
    Touching and so true ..we are all caught up in the rat race of accomplishments that even dogs need to be of a certain pedigree to suit our image of society ..
    I picked a stray near Udyavara on my way to manipal as he was about to cross the highway and if i hadn't he would have fallen under the next vehicle he was all of 2 to 3 weeks old ..though i always wanted a pedigree i'm so happy that i picked him after reading your poem ....at four months old he is a terror and a bundle of joy ...
    Thanks you ...Im gonna print out your poem for my family to read ...

  • Anita, Canada / Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 11 2013

    Dalia, you write beautifully. Your love for animals is clearly seen in this poem. The last I visited Mangalore, I remember going out for lunch and collecting the scraps from my table with my cousin sister, we had seen a hungry dog outside, everyone around was surprised. When we fed this dog rice and left-over chicken. The population of strays should be controlled, all dogs/cats should be sprayed or neutered.

  • Patricia , Dubai

    Thu, Apr 11 2013

    Dalia, you've written this wonderfully. It was really very touching. It depicts the true picture in a poor stray dog's life.

    Sad to see poor stray animals suffering on the streets. And the worse thing is, when some people tend to hurt them unnecessarily and enjoy watching the poor animals in pain. I just hope, such people are made to realize the pain that they are causing to the animals and thus refrain from doing such acts.

  • BSB, amxhi MUMBAI

    Thu, Apr 11 2013

    PLEASE LOVE INNOCENT/HELPLESS ANIMALS, RATHER THAN SELFISH/UNGRATEFUL HUMANS. OFCOURSE, THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE.

  • BSB, AMCHI MUMBAI

    Thu, Apr 11 2013

    Prefer sympathy to animanals rather than humans.Ofcourse, it is my experience.


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