Drowned

Drowned

I could only watch in horror as he disappeared beneath the surface.

A muffled call for help and an arm outstretched.

Eyes unseeing, resigned, bewildered and glazed.

There was nothing I could do to help but gazed!



Nothing to throw for him to catch.

No floats, no ropes, not even trash.

Going after him was a sure suicide,

As just below was water mad cascading white.

It all happened too fast.

In seconds, the cruel river had swallowed him, alas!



A search was mounted immediately.

It was only two days later we found his body.

A few kilometers down the river.

Sad, we lost a friend and we felt guilty forever.



That picture ever since had haunted me.

A curse perhaps, that I couldn’t see.

God! I wanted to help but I was hapless!

It all happened in a flash.



I couldn’t help pondering at its beginning.

A local folk did give a warning.

Not to swim in the vicinity of the jutting white rock

Said to be the guardian of its pool land-locked.



We dismissed it as mere superstition.

And swam in the invitingly calm and clear water.

This man swam too far out.

And the strong under-current pulled him out.



Strong that he was; he couldn’t fight the stranglehold.

And by the time we realised he was in difficulty.

It was too late to help and do something needy.

He was pulled down under.

Muffled call for help we could hear.

One hand outstretched and he disappeared forever.