The Quest for Survival

- Denifar Anjum.

Horrified she was 

When the highland winds howled hysterically 

She was forced to freeze rather inevitably 

The eaglets were there 

In the nasty nest they lay 

Devoid of any meal, there were cries of dismay 

The babies straggled round their mother 

‘cause there was no other. 

Behold! She shivered 

As the thunder bashed the balky bay 

But she knew she had a destined way 

Mortified she was 

For she couldn’t store anything beforehand 

Alas! Now her beloved were starving 

In the barren deadly land. 

The rains grew fiercer, aggression was in 

The ghastly winds seemed screaming 

“Poor Eagle, you can never win!” 

But someone whispered, “Stop dreaming, 

And lunge at full throttle, old Mother 

Do vanquish these ghouls of nature 

Don’t alchemize, my love, into a naysayer creature 

Save, O Yahweh, the eaglets’ future” 

It was her inner voice 

Her willpower, perhaps, offered a choice 

She was adamant now, gone were those signs of sorrow 

She dared to devour death with utmost determination 

And set to hunt for prey with apt estimation. 

The Eagle opened her wings 

Overpassing the tornado rings 

The whirling winds tried to knock her down 

For a brief while, it did make her frown. 

Behold! A tough cookie she was 

As the cloud stood face to face 

She cut through’em, she flew with grace 

At last in the middle of a melancholic mire 

She spotted her prey with crude desire 

Then she glided down and pawed the poor mice 

They ceased to live after shrieking thrice. 

The Eagle’s heart began to pound 

Thanks to the thunder, there was no one around. 

She headed triumphantly 

Her way back home 

It went dark and serene 

And the isle had tiny foam. 

Hell’s hand had loosened its grip 

A brook cascaded nearby, she took a li’l sip. 

And there she was 

Finally to her eaglets 

Critical they were, with feathers 

Like pale torn leaflets. 

Mirthfully they had their share 

But they were pretty unaware 

Their Mother had tasted hell 

And left it spellbound 

Even death had bowed down 

And left her safe and sound. 

Here’s the end of her story 

And her act of valour 

That brought deep glory.