How a shriveled body can reanimate?

To carry corpses to d' crematorium,

lately received the papers essential

already evening must start the trip,

finish the job with corona protocol

 

The next of kin unwilling to accept,

d' body of d' dead in this pandemic

disposal task, done by municipality,

d' tedious toil has made them sick

 

All d' tubing, iv lines, wires removed,

d' mouth, nasal holes tightly plugged

to prevent the spillage of body fluids,

in leak-proof linen wrapped, secured

 

Began d' ride after a prolonged wait,

felt like having a cup of piping hot tea

tired of the mass disposal episodes,

yet have a job, some income, a pity

 

After a while pulled the car to a halt,

nearby one wayside lonely tea stall

pleaded for making little special tea,

to get fully recharged, won't be dull

 

Shops unsure of d' folk with PPE kit,

 in d' dark finished d' cab parking task

not to divulge as the corpse handlers,

took off d' apron, gloves, N-95 mask

 

A person avidly waiting since long,

to go in d' same route to his village

barring few policemen no one seen,

no transport available, felt on edge

 

Driver, helper  duo may not permit,

why ask and wait for their consent

roads deserted for corona curfew,

aimed to board in d' hard moment

 

Nothing was visible in d' darkness,

he got up and sat on some packet

delighted with own achievement,

took a cigarette out from d' pocket

 

The congenial tea session got over,

came back and put on the PPE kits

on COVID duty, restarted d' vehicle,

it rolled ahead on road, put on speed

 

D' alien lighted d' cigar put in d' lips,

inadvertently the helper could see

how can a corpse suddenly get up,

and start a pleasant smoking spree

 

Got completely scared and startled,

told d' driver, must be a cigar addict

but what next, how to deal with him,

once gets charged, nicotine energetic

 

Portraying funny, how is it possible?

a corpse got up, inhales d' smoke in

stop and have a glimpse of d' ghost,

puffs out smoke like a steam engine

 

D' car slowed down, came to a halt,

both of them gave a terrifying look

with d' burning cigarette in his hand

he shouted, why stopped u crook?

 

Sir, we have some urgent work here,

jumped, started to run in one breath

afraid to turn back and see the scene

how a shriveled body can reanimate?

Own foul act chiseled him to an orphan

After several pressing deliberations,

son lastly acceded to admit d' father

in d' old age home with an impulse,

as wished by wife , thought no more

 

An orphanage cum old age home,

run by an esteemed Christian priest

d' available choices were explained,

a catalog showed by the receptionist

 

He enquired about comforts needed,

the TV, air conditioner and d' geyser

to be provided with nominal charges,

but dad flatly told a no to one and all

 

Son pushed off for luggage from d' car,

wife called up to check whether all fine

make sure of his full fulfillments there,

not to come home even in festival time

 

D' Christian priest appeared at d' desk,

wished a good morning, started to talk

son back with d' baggage got surprised,

cordial as if know each other for long

 

Couldn't control his curiosity further,

asked if he did know his father earlier

a freak smile rippled in his tender lips,

but never met him in last thirty years

 

Came to me long three decades back,

in a winter evening, the hands folded

and wife in pleading tear loaded eyes,

and a two-year baby boy they adopted

 

Linked to us, our revered institution,

we followed up, kept his information

grew well, got due care and education,

we felt lucky, victorious in our mission

 

Never expect such hapless time arrive,

an adopted orphan to be so egocentric

to put his mentor, own master caretaker,

in the same old age home, can't predict

 

Stood dumbstruck, eyes overflowing, 

 he could acknowledge his own origin

the luggage dropped from his hands,

d' mouth agape, with a dropped chin

 

Fell on his foot, entirely speechless,

lived a life king size, he behaved smart

entire life never knew to be an orphan,

d' loyal man kept him close to his heart

 

Dad casually chitchatting at the desk,

he felt defeated, parted, utterly undone

earth was slipping from beneath his feet,

own foul act chiseled him to an orphan