Tapka Poem by Renu Beri

The vessels smashed- crash, clash, clang
The children shouted and loudly sang,
The wife screamed waving her hands,
"You clumsy oaf! How can you stand?
Without some money in your hand!
Go off, " she cursed and things she banged.

Ram Singh slowly lifted his muddled head,
And longingly looked at his warm bed,
He realised, though it was extremely sad,
That he had to go to bring some bread.
With heavy heart he reversed his tread,
The lonely forest path filled him with dread.

The rain came pouring - pitter, pat, pat,
That was a hut to take shelter, wasn't that?
Ram Singh reached there short of breath.
Singing a song in the hut an old lady sat,
"I'm not scared of lion, tiger or cat,
Tapka, the strong man, has me scared.'

The blind old woman kept on muttering,
Ram Singh hid in a corner, heart fluttering,
A lion, a tiger and a leopard came in tottering,
The sight of the hag set their mouth watering.
"I'm not afraid of lion, tiger or cat,
Tapka, the strong man, has me scared."

The animals looked with fear in their eyes
And listened fearfully to the old woman's cries,
The lion looks frightened and deeply sighs,
‘Let's run away.' His alarmed look implies.
Gathering all his courage Ram Singh tries,
‘I'm Tapka, ' he jumps forward and cries.

The fearful animals stare at the prancing figure,
To show obsequiousness they feel eager,
Their untimely end they do not want to trigger.
Ram Singh's dancing figure grows bigger,
As he jumps about with heightened vigour.
Trying his utmost the animals to beleaguer.

Astride the fearsome lion sat Ram Singh,
He looked no less than a supernatural being,
The animals pondered, their senses awakening,
Who was this fearless man astride their king?
Around their powerful king they made a ring,
To proceed town-wards on Ram Singh's bidding.

The strange sight amazed the people - all and one,
Terrified; in every direction, they did run,
The news reached the king and his young son.
Each guard, stood ready with his gun,
The procession reached the palace at a run,
All knelt respectfully before the king and his son.

Ram Singh bowed his head to touch the floor,
"Maharaj, your humble servants, ' he implored,
Have come to fight by your side in the war
That our country has with the king next door."
All animals shake their heads and the tigers roar,
Affirming their hostility with the enemy they abhor.
,
The grateful king seats Ram Singh by his side,
The animals are sent to the shelters to abide,
By being merry till the time comes to fight,
They provided the children much delight,
A couple of days later by the dim twilight
A spy is spotted, running with all his might.

Exhausted and breathless, he struggles to say,
‘Pay heed to me, my country men, I pray,
Chariots, cavalry and infantry. Oh, I say,
Never saw such a huge enemy army in my day.
Marching towards our capital, on their way.'
With this, on the ground, forever, he lay.

News travelled fast through the whole town,
The people came forward to save the crown,
Ram Singh, with his army, ready and down,
To accompany the king to the battle ground.
Elephants, lions, tigers and even the hounds,
Marched forward smartly to the drums' sound.

Both the rival armies courageously fought,
Ram Singh had a very clever thought,
Why not separate from behind this lot?
And attack the enemy from another spot.
So he, his special army of animals brought
To a carefully sought out secret spot.

Such commotion was never seen before,
The animals through the enemy ranks tore,
There was a loud cry and a louder roar,
The enemy soldiers deserted by the score.
They were uprooted and admitted defeat,
Their king dethroned from his coveted seat.

Victorious, they marched to a drum beat,
The women welcomed them dressed fine and neat,
Joining the men they danced- their mood upbeat,
The loud music accompanied their rhythmic feet,
The animals were given a wonderful treat,
To everyone the happy king distributed sweets.


Ram Singh was asked by the grateful king,
‘What reward should we give you, Ram Singh? '
‘Please, Majesty, take note of the animal ring.
It is they, not I, who are responsible for the win,
Hunting and poaching be forbidden, my king.
They be given special treatment in everything.'

The king and the courtiers applauded so loud,
They could be heard by the waiting crowd.
Ram Singh's wife and children felt so proud,
The animals looked up at their loving lord.
"Hurrah, hurrah! " shouted the crowd,
Hurrah, hurrah, echoed the cheer, clear and loud.

The king made Ram Singh his chief minister,
He visited his loved animals every semester,
The people loved their benevolent minister,
Ram Singh was never again in a fluster,
He worked with all the energy he could muster.
His happy wife never again did him pester.