Between vitality and death

"What inspires you most in nature, master?" Disciple had asked his senior partner in one of their leisure-walks in the countryside.

"Everything! As I always tell you..." Master obviously wasn't very pleased to hear the question.

From where had that hawk descended upon one of those friendly rabbits grazing in an open space! He took the poor creature between his claws, paused a split second to ensure he had had his grip unmistakably firm, and bulleted himself skywards.

Disciple blinked at first. But soon as he regained his consciousness, he shouted to chase the sky killer away. The mammoth bird took no notice of him at all.

"It's over now, son!" Master tried to console him. He knew how much this youth is fond of animals. "That's jungle law!"

"Huh, nature!"

"Each of us has our share of cruelty given by nature."

"That's true..." Disciple stammered.

Both master and disciple looked at the sky almost simultaneously. But they failed to catch a trace of the killer. Killer of heaven?

The walkers tried to forget the incident and enjoy the atmosphere. So they went forth. Then disciple's keen eyes saw the back of a hunter-like figure looking up above into the sky! Using binoculars as well.

Disciple showed him to master, "Is he a hunter?" He asked.

"Let's approach!" Master suggested. Master was a pioneer who had contributed immensely to make that wilderness into a sanctuary. So they went forth.

"Yes, he's a hunter." Master said, abruptly.

"So..."

"Let him be so till he's done!" Master's voice was surprisingly decisive.

"But..." Disciple momentarily thought of arguing but controlled himself. He began to scrutinize the hunter.

"But where is the gun?"

"I said he's a hunter!" Master repeated.

The hunter turned back at that moment. He blinked a little, and then directed his binoculars towards master and disciple.

"Oh master," he shouted recognizing master, "you here?"

"Hoh, hoh, ho, my dear old Ted Hawks!!!"

They rushed forward and hugged the other. Disciple gazed, astounded.

Master being so great friends with a ruthless hunter!

But he slowly shuffled his way there. The hunter saw him coming and asked master, "who's this young man my dear old chap?"

"He's my disciple for the moment, Ted. We are on a literary mission..."

"Old habits die hard, I see!" The hunter observed with a beam.

"Son, this is my old friend Ted Hawks... Oh, pardon me, Ted Hughes!"

The hunter burst out laughing. Master joined in as well. "Never mind, never mind, my obsessions deserve me being called so, oh!" The hunter said amid his outrageous laughter, patting master's back.

"The famous poet, the husband of Sylvia Plath?"

"That I am, nice to know you young man. I saw someone trying to chase away that hawk after it took hold of a hare... Guess it be you!"

"Oh yes, so were you seeing that too, sir?"

"I was, in fact I was observing that hawk for quite a good while before that happened..."

"Now I remember, I've read some of your poems. Sir, I don't very much like the feeling in them. But I admire your perception of life and nature."

"Unpleasant they are," Ted turned hunter admitted, "but that's the reality that cannot be denied..."

"Ted always saw the other side of things."

Master explained. "Although now many write on violence and bestiality, I believe Ted was the harbinger of the concept."

That's a big compliment! Well, actually, I used wild life to present my view of life.

In other words, our origins also come from tribes and things where we used to hunt and kill, I mean, we aren't civilized as we claim... Civilization for man is very far away, it's nothing but a façade at the moment!"

"Yes, you always used to say that. Just as nature's violence and brutality impress you, it fascinates me how they draw you unto poetry..." Master had an old doubt to clear.

"Poetry's a great way to compress one's philosophy and perception...."

"And so we could enjoy it in our confines, I guess! Or even extend them beyond your limits."

"That's right. But let's not confuse your student from these things." Ted said looking at disciple's puzzled face.

Slowly and slowly, the rabbits have once again come into the open and begun grazing. And suddenly a huge shadow cast on them.

Everybody gazed and gasped. The Killer descended once again, but seeing the three intruders, took back a swing and shot back towards the sky.

Ted flung his binoculars into his eyes and ran after him. "I'll be soon here after I find where he lives." He shouted, running. But the bird had already gone a long distance away by then.

Master merely smiled: "Same old Ted Hawks! He won't be back... Let's be off, son, I think we had too much for today."

And disciple nodded in full agreement.

Sachitra and Samodh

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