PLATITUDES ABOUND

They have always told us that

ours is a party of the have-nots

that

the party stands and

strives for the welfare

of the toiling masses

that

it is high time both

they and the masses stood

under one umbrella

and gird up our loins and fight.

They have often

preached us that

it is time both we

and they grow up and

spread far and wide

that

they and we

take the plunge to

enlighten and exhort us to come down to

grass-roots level and ensure that we

consolidate and march forward

and our one and only

goal is to hold protest rallies

against the

ruling class who are

hand in glove with the

corporates who are exploiting us

on a daily basis.

Platitudes abound

but we are often

reminded to take up

cudgels and fight.

But the party remains

a child with stunted growth

even after years of its existence.

And the down-trodden

continue to languish

in famine, poverty,

malnutrition, lack of sanitation

facilities, pure drinking water

and lack of accommodation facilities.