poetic thoughts on statehood day

ON EC’s action
(of disallowing Ram Punayani’s talk)

There are those who feel the EC deserves a clap
But in the din, didn’t you hear the sound of a slap
A slap on the face of the people who seek a peaceful state
That is under attack by fascists and their venomous hate


LANGUAGE

My teacher taught me in school
That language is a very powerful tool
So, if the words were from my pen’s surge
“Hindutva right wing” would never emerge!

My teacher would exclaim, “What a weak construction…
Of a sentence about perpetuators of destruction!”
Use the right words, lest readers understand late…
“rapists”, “murderers”, “fanatics” would be appropriate!


SALESMEN

Sometimes it is the name of an astrological sign…
Sometimes, it is an atheist with a name divine...

Sometimes it is about developing common wealth
Sometimes it is about suppressing your own breath!

All the time we thought that politics was the pits
But look at those salesmen do their dirty bit!


DILEMMA

You see it really isn’t anywhere close to fair
For those of us who are fast becoming a tribe rare!

I can’t bring myself to down the Corrupted drink
Or jump off the communal cliff’s brink!
I can’t appreciate the two-timing two-leaf guys
Or board the flight full of diseased flies!
I can’t get myself to ride the wolf in lion’s clothes
Or search for the dove in the scattered feathers!

You see it really isn’t anywhere close to fair
For those of us who are fast becoming a tribe rare!


VOTE FOR ALCOHOL

The election commission disallows us a legal binge
As if we were going for a talk against the right wings!
But it is okay to down the free flow of alcohol
and drown the noise of your conscience call!