Life = Death - Volume 4 - Poems on Life , Death by Nikhil Parekh - HTML preview

30. GRILLS 

When I riveted a grill of pure gold across my window; the burglars stared

unrelentingly; thinking I was overwhelmingly rich,

They whispered in inaudible tones about the wealth; they envisaged was stored

inside,

Delicately chiseled the grill with their axe; and dexterously pilfered all they could lay their hands on. 

When I put a grill of silver bars across my window; the mouths of the burglars

slavered at witnessing the gleam,

They abandoned their other plans of robbery; intensely concentrating on my house,

Imagining the wonderful goods inside; and indiscriminately barged in snapping

the grill.  

When I embedded a grill of immaculate ivory across my window; the burglars had

a hard time stifling their startled gasps,

They admired the rustic charm I had incorporated in an innocuous window; contemplating my real wealth,

Atrociously smashed the same with their bludgeons; to savor the taste of my hidden resources. 

When I stuck a grill of scintillating and pellucid mirror across my window; the burglars were busy gazing at their reflections,

Thoroughly mesmerized by the transparent grill; the richness that lay blended in the sparkling glass,

Smashed the same into splinters using hard stone; gaining easy access into

my chamber of dreams. 

When I used a grill of fragrant rosewood across my window; the burglars got

insatiably tickled by the aroma,

They didn’t feel like budging an inch; drowned in the celestial aroma,

Later broke the same using slender sticks of explosives; intruded upon the

privacy of my nocturnal bedroom. 

When I fixed a grill of barbed wire charged with electric current across my

window; the burglars were simply intrigued by the contrivance,

They perceived me to me astoundingly clever; pondered profoundly on

annihilating my automatic device,

Did the same with clinical precision; abhorrently transgressing through my

solitary dwelling. 

It then when I decided to have no grill at all; kept the colossal space of window absolutely bare to peep,

The burglars passing didn’t even notice; dismissing all thoughts of me

possessing the slightest of affluence; ridiculing my threadbare disposition,

They had other houses to sabotage on their list; it was the first time they spared me from possible harm,

And I snored blissfully all night; laughing in my dreams and saying; to stay

without a grill is far better than having one.