Ian's poem

Ten years ago, coming upon a cockroach as I entered my bathroom at home one night, I ended up writing a story, “Cockroach sutra”. I shared this with Ian Blore, my friend and colleague on an environmental management planning project in Calcutta. The next day he gave me this poem in response. Thank you Ian.


The Dog on the Beach

Ian Blore
United Kingdom

Poor dog, lies half dead on the beach
Where the children chased him
Till he, out of reach of land
Half broken dog, unable to stand
Is driven into the breakers again and again.

Half dead dog, lives in terror and pain
Of the sea that closes over
Or they who out of evil play
Half broke a dog who cannot say
I am broke, young humans, no more, no more.

Poor humans, with lives that are sad
Beside the dog that lives on
In memories no stone bleeds.
If humans were unable to breed
Evil would end, and dogs live on and on.