Standing Stick

By Kapil Joshi

Goes the legend,

Long and discussed;

Two great friends,

Who never fussed

Jack and Jill,

They were known

Together bred,

Together grown

Joined the army,

well at age.

Survived and killed

freed the cage

Heroes of battalions,

Leaders of their will

Opponents only dreamt

These men to kill

40 years of solitude,

now peacefully retired

Back to their hometown,

Much admired

Snowtown, the home

Always great weather

Old'friends sittin' all day,

Chilling together

Joey, the carpenter

arrives one day

Hearing their heroics,

Glorious army stay

Both the soldiers,

equally pumped

Shared great stories

For Joey to be stunned

I am impressed, but

Who the better fighter

Jack sounds a veteran

Jill seems lighter

Sly bastard Joey

Been'a filthy man

Wicked but truthful

Strongest to stand

Sorry friend Jill,

Best is only one

Does not matter

How you won

But…All these be stories

and Jack might lie

What if O'Jill you better

Jack, just sly

Jack retorts,

almost hitting to walk

Hey fancy Joe

Mind your talk

Poison my tongue

If I speak ill

What stories can't decide,

A battle will.

What ya mean

Both friends query

The rubbish you utter

Makes me worry

No no no,

Don't mean no wrong

I know the way

To bang the gong

Greet the fighter,

Hero of Snowtown

Who stays longer,

who falls down ?!

Such great friends,

you both have been

But the deadliest warrior,

Unclear to be seen.

That's for sure,

It's either of you

But stories can't decide

So only can you

"Indeed Indeed",

They thump their backs

Asking how to prove

Where each ranks

But…Jack can't stand,

Check that leg

That's war-crippled

What do you expect

In that case,

It's clear then

Jill, you stand fit

Strongest of the men

But, I demand a duel

A fair battle

The last man to stand

To showcase his mettle

Very wise Jack,

says old wily Joe

May there be the fight

Be it friend-or-foe

" oh hell yes!"

Barks Jack

Pulls his revolver,

Mocking to attack

Jill sets aback

"Oh, no no no"

There be no fight

Joe, aagrr! off you go

Why? I ask

The idea not to miss

A duel will unearth

What truly is

Who the warrior,

Who the boss

It's purest of duels,

Not some stupid toss

You the big man

and Jack may ask

For a fair duel,

The winner to unmask

Crippled and angered

Jack shouts

Tomorrow noon,

To clear all doubts

Last man standing,

Till the bullets fire out

I be prepared

Jill, you better come out

Jill grew sad,

but had to go

Remembers war days,

Feels even low

Grabs his revolver,

Looks at the sun

You be the last man,

He tells his gun

Jack was up early,

Raging for a win

Better should've thought

Duelling his kin

The gun belt-buckled,

Hat now shines

And holds a stick

To stand full fine

Both at the ground,

At clock by the schools

When it strikes 12,

The man to shoot

The clock ticks,

Jill shoots the one

Closes eyes sadly

And looks at none

Jack stands tall,

taking the bullet

There upon right chest,

he feels the pellet

"Bang" comes the 2nd

Jack takes the shot

Jill is wounded

And left to rot

Both don't fall,

For warriors they've been

Bullets, guns and tanks

They have all seen

Their eyes moisten,

with feel of guilt

A race to top,

A friend to kill?

Jill stands up

throws his gun.

Slowly collapsing,

And finally done!

Such is the sadness,

Thy friends fall.

Jack soon followed,

To greet death's call

His stick still up,

So hard on the ground

With weight, dug inside

Inches earthly bound

Now, Joey left strongest

Carpenter filthy prick

But fairly, what remains,

Is the Standing Stick.

By Kapil Joshi