THE MANGO TREE IN MY YARD

A mango tree grew and flourished

in the yard around our house

No one knew how it had been nourished

For none had brought it to the house.

Within a few years the tree grew big

And yielded many a tasty mango

That when ripe were quite big

Though how, we don’t know.

The mango tree attracted a lot of attention

At first did come crows, squirrels and parrots,

The whole place became a peaceful situation

Of bliss; indeed so cool and far out.

Next came the street urchins

Throwing stealthy stones over the wall

It only led to house break-ins

Under the pretext of picking the fruit that did fall.

Last but not the least were the neighbours

Educated so called honest folk

That climbed their terrace for the fruit of their labours

With long sticks they did poke

Respectable people who were lawyers and teachers

They found nothing dishonest in stealing the fruit

These people who were morality preachers

Found nothing wrong in plucking the fruit

“It’s just a natural fruit”, they said

“What’s wrong in taking it?”

They questioned with consciences dead

Revealing that that they were just faking it.

I watched all this from my room so small

Every summer the mangoes came and so did they

Stretching their hand across the wall

Why couldn’t they just ask and take what they may?