We are the
beggars begging for our own money
Standing in
serpentine queues before
Automated
bureaucratically heartless machines.
The boss will
charge a cess
For giving us
our own money
and peddle us
promises in return.
There is food
in the market.
Vegetables rot
on the stands
For want of
money to be bought.
Fruits rot.
Fish and meat
rot.
Money rots in our
accounts.
We live in a
rotten country.
Having
everything, we have nothing.
Not even
voices to speak out.
We mistrust
the very air we breathe.
The person
standing behind or in front in the queue
Is my enemy in
all probability.
There are only
patriots with burning hearts
And traitors
to feed the passion’s blazes.
My government
is the wizard of words.
Words conjure
up a utopia, paradise, in people’s fancy,
Swachh Bharat
where wealth and all else is white,
Whose godman
sells miraculous fairness creams
For whitening
all that is black.
Whiteness is
Prakriti ka ashirwad.
The white man’s
burden is back
Whitening the
nation
Whitening the
nation
Whitening the
nation
Automated
bureaucrats laugh
Like the wind
passing through dried up brambles.
You said it Sir. The present situation is exactly the same in our country. Helplessness has become the order of the day for a commoner.
ReplyDeleteHow much patience do the people possess is the next question, Jitender ji. While imposing remedial measures (some of which may be needed), can people be ignored? For whom is the remedy? For the sake of remedy or for the people?
DeleteI hope the government will become more sensitive to the ordinary people's needs and necessities.
Ha ha..the impact of demonetization has made you write a poem..and an even more impactful than that I must say! I loved every single word of it, Tom sir:):)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the appreciation, Amit ji. I was reminded to Vikram Seth's poem 'The Tale of the Melon City' in which the King says, "The nation needs a hanging and someone must be hanged'. We now have almost the whole nation being hanged for the sake of the King!
DeleteReminded me of Eliot's poetry - the rotten city of hollow mindsets
ReplyDeleteEliot is a regular source of inspiration whenever I turn a poet.
DeleteA wonderful poem on the current scenario.
ReplyDeleteThe current scenario is a fertile ground for poets.
DeleteYou should the weapon of poetry more often since you do have a natural knack for it!
ReplyDeleteNice to hear that.
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