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A COW

by Deepak Kapur

I spotted a cow on the roadside, munching domestic refuse with intent

Huge mass of flesh, limping its way ahead.

Its leg broken

The cleavage visible even from outside the thick skin.

It flaunted marks of different colours

A ritual of cow worship.

After all cows are regarded as mothers in India

Left to die on roads, once devoid of milk.

Its movement still had grace, like a ship

Even though the hind left leg

Bowed in the middle

When it bore the tremendous weight.

Its face shorn of any pain

Took a sudden dip whenever it encountered a rut in the road.

This creature has great perseverance, I thought

Or it lacks certain pain receptors, I grew skeptic.

Nonetheless, I was a partner in its pain

I followed it until it halted

Near a congested group of crude shacks.

The sun leaned its head against a bower of eucalyptus trees.

My curiosity made me unaware of the waning day.

(my home was far away)

I enquired a passerby

Does this cow belong to this place?

Yes, came the swift reply

These people own her.

‘Her’ brought the cow even closer to my heart

Is she unable to produce milk I asked?

No, they are unable to feed her

He had unearthed the secret in my question.

Some grass is no big deal, came my retort

Death is rampant in this hamlet, malnutrition the main culprit, he shot.

All my passion died a premature death

Starved faces blurred my eyes.

I suddenly remembered the day was dead

Time to go to my family.

Deepak Kapur I am a lecturer in English at S.M.D.R.S.D. College, Pathankot, Punjab, India. My work has been published in 971 MENU, DUCTS.ORG, IDENTITY THEORY (Editor’s Choice), BARNWOOD POETRY MAGAZINE, UNDERGROUND VOICES, and CHRONOGRAM.

My work is forthcoming in HUDSON VIEW, SPINNINGS, BURST, and THE HOUSTON LITERARY REVIEW