Collection of Poems
Photo credit: gbh from morguefile.com
Street Children
They say glibly that poverty is a curse,
Paying for sins of one’s previous birth.
Why not loosen strings of your purse?
Charity, man, can give the poor, mirth.
All men are equal when they’re born,
God made no man superior to others,
Why then some regale when some are forlorn?
Why then about deprived none bothers?
When qualified of nation, stand in long queues,
“Why don’t you work?” asked are the beggars,
Compete they with dogs to get a bite of refuse,
At the sight of their plight, tears mind triggers.
Preached a lot “Children, waste not food”
Alas! To me a deaf ear always they turn,
Looked at me with eyes that are rude,
Values of life they never seemed to learn.
Large chunk of nation below poverty line,
Nary a morsel, nary a letter in their destiny.
Hopeless lives, helpless kids’ eyes don’t shine,
Nary a grumble or a complaint or a mutiny.
One man’s poison is yet another’s medicine,
One man’s garbage is another’s gourmet food.
Privileged tots always are in apparel pristine,
Their rags, to urchins are clothes very good.
God created all men equal, why the imbalance?
Brought up by nature, whose children are they?
Sore wounds of society, none gives them a glance,
Are you culprit, am I guilty, what does society say?
Much loved and pampered are sweet children mine,
Unaware are they of bitter truth of society flawed.
Not are mine, nor are theirs, nor these children thine,
Are they then the unlucky children of a lesser God?
***
Summer, Oh Summer! (Written for Samriddhi, my granddaughter)
Nights are shorter
Days are longer
It means folks that
We rejoice in summer.
No bags to carry
All fun, frolic and play
No sums to solve
‘Coz each day is a holiday.
During day temperature soars
But staying indoors bores
Mom says no, but papa buys ice creams
“She’ll catch cold,” mama screams.
Spring ushers lovely colours
Winter brings chill ‘n’ shiver
Dry leaves fall in autumn
Folks, best of them all is summer.
***
Tears Of The Last Sparrow
My throat is parched,
My heart is pounding,
My wings are tired,
My eyes are searching.
I flew from tree to tree
Didn’t find any sibling;
I flew from home to home
Found no brother bubbling.
The heat is killing
Nary a drop in sight;
Where’s my family gone?
I know not their plight.
My head is throbbing
‘Coz of some waves it’s said;
Unable to fly anymore
But have to search ahead.
Look I found something below;
Lo behold there’s my mother.
“Mom, what happened” I cried,
“Run from waves son, don’t bother.”
Collapsed she did in my arms
Could do nothing but weep.
My whole clan disappeared,
Due to radio frequency’s sweep.
Left behind my mom and flew away
Searching for a safe place to live;
I am the last of my brethren
And of this land I am native.
Where do I go, where do I search
And find a safe place that cheers?
Tears I shed and appeal to human;
I’m so little who can see my tears?
***
If You Are Beside Me
If you are beside me, sweetheart…
Life is rendered so easy
Mountain turns into mound
Living becomes so breezy
Cacophony is sweet sound;
If you are beside me, sweetheart…
Dog day is cool winter night
Nary a depression, nary a sorrow
Eyesores are feast for the sight
Glee from me you could borrow;
If you are beside me, sweetheart…
Life’s long trudge is walk in garden
Hurricane turns into fresh breeze
Privation becomes gift, not burden
Oh God! Make this moment freeze.
By Shyam Sundar Bulusu
***
