Dirge To The Vanishing Lake

Another world-water day had witnessed

The horrible plight of the Sastamcotta Lake

The watery retreat of the legendary ‘Sastha’

Which quenched the thirst of thousands

In and around the heart of ‘Desinganad’

Myths hold that the splash of fish in the lake

Caused ripples in all wells in the vicinity

What a paradox that the fathomless lake

Dries up and recedes into obscure caverns.

It is a pity that this winding watery expanse

Dried up due to the insatiable greed of man

‘Water,water everywhere nor any drop to drink’

So mourned the ancient Mariner

Now water, water no where

Chants the countless

Parching tongues around the Lake.

Deeply hurt and shocked at the news of the drying up of Sasthamcotta Lake sometime in 2009 March