Forgive Me! Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

As I entered my bathroom today,
I saw a huge mosquito flying
In front of the mirror;

In early days of seventies and eighties
Of the twentieth century,
Mumbai did not have this pest
I don’t remember seeing a single
Mosquito in Churchgate area.

These days despite the fan overhead,
And the All-Out light for warding off
Still while asleep I get bitten badly
On finger knuckles, even forehead
Awakening me with pain for long.

So, I told this poor flying fellow,
Sorry, I cannot allow this;
And swapped it dead,
As more than half a dropp of blood
Burst out.

As I finished this, I could see
Hanging from the ceiling a different insect,
Whose name I don’t know;
But it is flat, diamond-shaped, and can hand
Perpendicular from one of its orifices.

I have not read, nor been told
But I feel that contact with
This small creepy thing
Would lead to skin problems and more.

So, I told this creepy guy
Sorry, I cannot allow this;
And lit a match-stick and burnt
And pushed his corpse to flush out.

I know myself, and people readily say this,
Reading and lecturing on Buddha,
And Gita and Christ and all
Who preach love and compassion
To all creatures – how can I do this?

It is really difficult for me
To reconcile: I agree I can turn
The other cheek, but I find it hard
To agree to tell my wife to do so!
Complexities of life are endless.