Pooja means prayer and shanti means peace<\/p>\n
This is a story of a little girl who at the age of 5 wanted to meet an elephant and met Shanti a temple elephant at the national park when Shanti was enjoying a holiday with other elephants from her work at the temple
\nThis relationship developed for many years it is a beautiful story and one
\nI shall commit to a poem about them both and her friend Subbu and the mahouts she befriended Jambu and Arjum. Shanti died at the age of 55
\nAnd Pooja still comes to India to stay with Sabbu and with the mahouts.<\/p>\n
She was just a young girl
\nLoving animals so
\nCats dogs and rats
\nMonkeys and goats she did know
\nEach of them sensitive to each others
\nNeeds
\nShe was tender and caring
\nAnd Perceptive her deeds
\nTowards them expressing
\nA love that was true
\nShe was very aware
\nAnd knew just what to do<\/p>\n
She was from Germany
\nSchooled in Berlin
\nImpressionable
\nBlonde hair and fair skin
\nPrayer was a good name
\nA delicate soul
\nConscious and knowing
\nThat this was her role<\/p>\n
To try really hard to love
\nAnimals so
\nHer parents were clearly
\nObserving the flow
\nOf caring qualities
\nTheir daughter possessed
\nAnd were honestly
\nPleased really
\nhow they were blessed<\/p>\n
POoja was anxious To go to see
\nAn Elephant and her parents
\nThought it would be
\nBetter to see animals in the wild
\nThey didnt like zoo’s
\nNot for their child
\nSo they found out that
\nTemple elephants once a year
\nGo on a holiday and it was clear<\/p>\n
That was the place where they could all go
\nAnd see elephants enjoying themselves
\nAnd we know
\nMUDUMALAI National Park sanctuary
\nNorth west of the Nilgiri Hills
\nShe could see
\nsome of these elephants
\nAnd there she met
\nSubbu a tracker
\nAnd their friendship soon set<\/p>\n
Her on a good road for she met
\nTwo mahouts
\nWho didnt use bullhooks
\nWhich were at the roots
\nOf her understanding
\nHer philosophy exceeded her age
\nAnd her psyche<\/p>\n
And thats where she met up
\nWith a female SHanti
\nWhich means peacefulness
\nAnd now she was free
\nFrom the temple and workings
\nHer consciousness grew
\nShe perceived that this child
\nHad a much greater view<\/p>\n
And the two became friends
\nAnd Pooja did feed Shanti
\nWith bananas and tomatoes
\nIndeed
\nShe sat with Sabbu and watched
\nShanti who
\nJust loved the water
\nLike elephants do<\/p>\n
Very soon she assisted
\nAnd scrubbed Shanti she
\nBecame a good friend to her
\nAbsorbed she be
\nConsiderate and caring
\nAnd sharing and they
\nHad mutual understanding
\nMore so everyday<\/p>\n
They would breakfast together
\nAt Shanti’s feet
\nNo thought of danger
\nShanti would greet
\nPooja with gentleness
\nDespite her great size
\nThere was an awareness
\nIn both of their eyes<\/p>\n
A truth and a rightness
\nA genuineness
\nA real authenticity
\nThere was never stress
\nA discernment from Pooja
\nAt a very young age
\nTo have genuine wisdom
\nSomewhat of a sage<\/p>\n
She knew that Shanti
\nWas unhappy when she
\nHad to work at the temple
\nAnd didnt feel free
\nChains on her feet
\nHot and bothered there
\nHad the soundness of mind
\nAnd felt her despair<\/p>\n
At least her mahout
\nWas a very kind man
\nA considerate soul
\nAnd was her fan
\nShe had learned that the elephants
\nDo have thick skin
\nBut around their ears
\nIts incredibly thin
\nAnd some mahouts use bullhooks
\nAnd hurt them so
\nSo at least Shanti
\nWas given respect
\nWhich did show<\/p>\n
POoja was able to realise
\nShe
\nthats Shanti had foresight
\nAnd a memory
\nShe anticipated and had a second sight
\nSagacious and prudent
\nA soul bathed in light<\/p>\n
For such a young child
\nThis friendship that grew
\nCloser and closer
\nFor both of them knew
\nLove was so possible
\nAs all could see
\nAnd Pooja was closer
\nThan most and could be<\/p>\n
Able to ride high up on her back
\nShanti knew too when she had to go back
\nShe had tears in her eyes
\nPOoja could see
\nThat Shanti was calmer
\nWhen she was free<\/p>\n
The truck took her back
\nShe trusted them to
\nLook after her clearly
\nWith Pooja in view
\nSHanti was ready
\nAnd their friendship
\nIt grew
\nSix months of the year
\nPOoja stayed with her too<\/p>\n
Got her some gifts
\nTomatoes and fruit
\nPicked up at the market
\nIn that way astute
\nTo the elephants needs
\nAnd the essence of life
\nEach significant moment
\nTo free her from strife<\/p>\n
Somedays she stayed all day
\nInseparable they
\nA five ton elephant
\nAnd a small girl the way
\nThey clicked was extraordinary
\nEveryone thought
\nThey were learning together
\nBoth clearly caught<\/p>\n
In a tangible friendship
\nOf wondrous freewill
\nSpontaneous caring
\nThat clearly did spill
\nOut to so many who watched them
\nAs they
\nWere enjoying their friendship
\nIn a beautiful way<\/p>\n
POoja’s parents were delighted
\nAnd wanted to try
\nAnd help Shanti get bathed
\nThere was no bath
\nTo lie
\nIn in the city heat
\nOnly the hose
\nAnd wanted to retire her
\nAnd were in the throes<\/p>\n
Every morning Pooja would
\nLead Shanti along
\nTo the temple but knew in her heart
\nIt was wrong
\nClearly it was dirty and hot
\nAnd she missed
\nSeeing her friend
\nAnd couldnt resist<\/p>\n
The urge just to make it known
\nThese two believed
\nAnd each year Pooja came back
\nThey achieved
\nAn outstanding friendship
\nThat was until Shanti
\nShe died
\nAs every soul will<\/p>\n
That must have unsettled
\nPOoja but she
\nrealised
\nToo that her friend
\nLeft to be
\nPerhaps liberated
\nTo a heaven somewhere
\nWhere the waters were cooler
\nAnd where she could share<\/p>\n
A breathtaking view
\nAwe inspiring and green
\nWith copious sweet leaves
\nAnd fruits and be seen
\nRetaining her thoughts
\nOf Pooja her friend
\nWho she loved beyond life
\nTo the very end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pooja means prayer and shanti means peace This is a story of a little girl who at the age of 5 wanted to meet an elephant and met Shanti a temple elephant at the national park when Shanti was enjoying … Continue reading