THE AMBUSH

He was a dare-devil- no doubt in that
He threw his weight around and smirked like a well-fed cat
In the underworld -he had earned quite a name
Locals hero-worshipped him-notoriety brought him great fame


The bigger players marked him but ignored for the simple fact
The little thugs balanced each other and the equilibrium was kept intact
Things took a dramatic turn when hero boasted in inebriated stage
That he possessed a unique hen that daily laid a golden egg!!

He could no longer be ignored- benign indifference turned to hostility
His smugness was deemed an offense-his liquidation an act of dire necessity
The hero with his sharp acumen- had already raised an army of loyals
And, therefore, started right on streets a fierce fight for supremacy and
spoils


He threatened to kill the goose
And each day killed a great many geese
The allied were on tenterhooks
They wanted the goose by hook or by crook

So they feigned cease- fire, invoked the offices of law
It got his knives seized-his arms supply reduced to nil
Goose slaughter was declared offense
He was fooled as he thought the enemy's hands locked as well

So next day he ventured out-alone and unguarded
Confident that enemy had accepted defeat and departed
But he was ambushed with bullets and arrows
Startled- he fell down- flailing his arms -catching only shadows

Without the hero the people were pliant -though they bore the brunt of ire
They looked helplessly as the plunderers ransacked and yet pledged to
rebuild entire
But they found no mythical bird -they were taken for a ride by his
irrepressible whim
Fond of practical jokes-even in death the hero fooled the bigwigs- full
credits to him!!