THE CAT AND MOUSE

POEM

The cats at the top of

the pyramid are growing

more and more fatter.

The lean and skinny mice

at the bottom of the pyramid

are becoming more and more

hungry and are starving to death.

The gap continues to be

wider and wide which is alarming.

The crorepathis though

less in number corner millions

and millions draining the exchequer.

The poor at the bottom

of the pyramid

wake up in the early morning

find themselves 

in a piquant situation

for scarcity of sanitation facilities 

lack of pure drinking water

with nothing over their heads

and a few spend their nights 

on the street sides

or railway platforms

wake up with fire in their bellies.

They walk along the streets

with begging bowls

pleading with each human being

coming their way

to earn something to

make both ends meet.

But with the approach

of elections each five year

the leaders of umpteen

parties across the

land approach them hanging their heads

before each poor man or

woman  and promise to

make earth a heaven

and with artificial smiles,

keeping devils inside,

pay hundreds and hundreds of rupees

and ensure their votes.

The poor take their promises for granded

approach the polling booths

on the scheduled day

stand in the queue under the blazing sun

dreaming of a spring

cast their votes and return 

with their begging bowls

stretching their hands and beg.

Forgetting their previous elections

and the promises and platitudes

by the candidates

of previous years by the poor ones

fall into the trap as always.

Each govt still

boasts about the wonderful

growth trajectory

ensconced in their air-conditioned cabins.