The Dead Cat

By Deepak Manchanda

The cat Lay dead in the middle of the VIP road Blood gore and splat

Cars went this way and that around it Young boys skipping to school tossed pebbles at it Passers-by held hankies to their nose around it A dog came wandering along, raised a leg and moved on The cat Lay dead in the middle of the VIP road Blood gore and splat A constable on the beat came by Shouting frantically into his walkie-talkie Dead cat, dead cat - over and out A squad car soon came screeching Dead cat, dead cat The VIP cavalcade has soon to flutter by

The Sanitation Karamchari could not be found The Removal Van was long ago broken down The Driver was a Weaker Section vacancy By Court Order, the Fire Brigade could not be disturbed Dead cat must go, commanded the Chief Cruelty, said Animal Rights Driving madness, said Traffic Commissioner Omen, intoned the Astrologer Community sensitization, wanted the Sociologist Public Private Partnership, suggested the Consultant The Economist, meanwhile, was lost somewhere in words The cat Lay dead in the middle of the VIP road Blood gore and splat The VIP cavalcade With red beacons And flags Was soon to flutter by Blood gore and splat, Along came a cameraperson Now to bring you from the VIP Road Live - 'The Dead Cat'

By Deepak Manchanda