When Trust Deserts, What Is Left? Poem by narayana aghalaya

WHEN TRUST DESERTS, WHAT IS LEFT?

Ivan Askoynoff, young, handsome, carefree
lots of mirth; also rare drunken sprees
as a merchant, he did quite well
then wed and careful too, one could tell
cut down on booze, as his wife bid
happy family grew - with a line of kids
fortune smiled in full glory
and all seemed honky dory

once, Ivan had to go, out of town
to a fair; for profits to reap, it was known
' don't go this time; bad dream has left me cold.
if true, you will return wizened and old.'
wife pleaded; he tried to cheer her: ' be not miffed;
' will be back soon with lots of gifts'
with the goods to sell loaded on the cart
with horses and driver, he hurried to depart
by dusk, Ivan found, an inn to halt;
there met a merchant for some chitchat
dinner done, to adjacent rooms they retired
sleep enveloped; for Ivan was tired

at dawn to fair Ivan headed
with a brief halt for horses had to be fed
soon a posse of police caught up with Ivan
and quizzed him; he was clueless of their plan.
soon the beans were spilled: the friend of last night
was dead, stabbed in the neck, with signs of fight
Ivan was the last to have met the deceased
to throw some light will Ivan be pleased?
Ivan protested; ' just an hour, I was with that man
Who killed if I knew, I would be damned.'
police, as routine, searched his baggage
and soon found a hidden blood stained dagger
that clinched: he was the prime suspect
police worked on him ignoring protests
Ivan was tied up and taken away
to be quizzed, if need be, by brutal ways
in Vladimir police met wife and friends
none believed, to murder, Ivan would descend
some in passing spoke of past drunken brawls
but out from that habit, Ivan had crawled

murder for gain; verdict: guilty; Ivan, was jailed
he was broken, by turn of events paled
wife and kids to meet him, came to jail
Ivan, in prison dress, to shock her, didn't fail
is this her smart, handsome caring spouse
who left home, for the fair, despite her grouse?
he told her to petition the Czar
' all my hopes, on that last resort'
she had done that, sadly to no avail
that shut, for Ivan, all doors out of jail
few minutes later family had to leave
she came close to his ears and asked in brief:
' Ivan, tell me, that man did you kill? '
For Ivan it was like a bomb-shell.

when trust deserts, nothing is left
just a man of flesh and bones, soul bereft
Ivan bent down his head, didn't reply
wondering, does his wife trust a lie?
Ivan never met the family again
life in Siberia, was his new pain
he reconciled: God knows the Truth, but waits
with which, the World will have a date

in jail, he turned meek and pious
aged, greyed; beard copious
helping young convicts with petitions
he was 'Grandpa', loved by all, by none shunned
inside prison all were convinced:
'Ivan in jail for a crime he didn't commit'

Makar, sixty, from Ivan's hometown
a new convict, with swagger and brawn
he boasted: I am here for a petty crime;
went scot-free post a murder in my prime!

Ivan asked about the Askoynoffs
Makar told him: ' they are rich and well off '
' their father drank and murdered one;
if alive, still rotting in jail for his sin '
then he asked : ' old man, what is your tale?
Ivan mumbled; but the rest filled in details

about the dagger and the murder in the inn
about the wrong verdict that left Ivan sinned
Makar briefly all nerves, soon recovered
but why nerves, needed to be discovered

Ivan and Makar both from Vladimir and sixty
did Makar kill, then made Ivan look guilty?
Ivan felt sure but kept his counsel
now too late for tales to rake up and tell

once Ivan saw Makar digging a tunnel
Makar warned Ivan not to tell
Ivan assured ' all your guilt, God knows;
and He decides what next; I wont tell; I vow'

the half dug tunnel, the staff found out
on new convict Makar, they had doubts
the other convicts all said: 'don't know'
but 'Grandpa' said: ' God knows; I bow'

Makar soul-searched on Ivan's noble act
his confession to Ivan, no details lacked:
' I stabbed, the merchant struggled, in the inn;
I robbed twenty thousand roubles, in the din
then entered your room through the window
hid the dagger in your bag; this story none knows'

Ivan was relieved after the evidence
he wished to leave things to Providence
Makar then made his confession in court
this hit the officers like a thunderbolt

Ivan was to be released with honour
but the order was too late by an hour
Ivan had died in peace in his cell
as Ivan forgave, none will go to hell
----
{ based on a short story ' God Knows the Truth but Waits' (1878) by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1908) }