Under a Poplar Tree
Wan and weary in sultry heat
he walked on and on through dust and dirt
off the bustling street, looking for a shade
Paving his way through by lanes
at last reached a quiet spot,
full of green cover.
Like an Arab coming upon an oasis
amid the panting sterility of the desert,
he rejoiced.
It had an air of monastic seclusion
a mysterious charm and a sedate calm!
Here he sat under a poplar tree
Soon was lost in a reverie.
What thoughts coursed through his mind,
he had no idea but found himself in a cave.
To his horror, saw a human countenance,
staring at him from a dusty corner
A shriveled old man with a gnarled face,
and projecting cheek bones
resembling a mummy, curiously preserved!
But it moved drawing closer… still closer
He noticed the man’s quaint appearance-
flowing black garb, flaming eyes, and grey wiry hair.
A chain of skulls was tied around the neck
and sinister objects were strewn around.
No doubt….
a necromancer……!!
Without a second glance,
he ran…….. and again ran!
What would have happened if he had not run?
For a moment he couldn’t think.
What was it that he heard?
was it the thud of a coconut falling
or the barking of a dog?
Now he knew it was all a dream.....
a dream within a dream while he fell off into a snooze,
sitting under the Poplar tree!
With a kind of embarrassment, he realized;
even if he had not run, nothing would have happened.
___________________________
November.2.2022
~ Placed First~
I Chose to Run, But Had I sTayed... Poetry Contest
Sponsor - Anoucheka Gangabissoon
Copyright © Valsa George | Year Posted 2022
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