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Written: 21 July 2023 
Submitted to No. 1231 New Poem Only Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Brian Strand 

Bridging the Unbridgeable Chasm*

As rises the wealth of nations,
As grows the limb of a township
So declines the flowers of compassion;
As grows the arm of a city,
As grows the height of skyscrapers
So grows absolute poverty,
So grows the chasm between man and man,
So grows the chasm of humanity.

When the pursuit of wealth becomes
The relentless craze of mankind,
When men are devoid of feelings
And look with disdain at human kind
In dire needs, in want of a day`s meal,
The chasm between the wealthy and poor lot
Grows wide and cannot be concealed
As the expanse of the ocean.

When robots are treading the floor
Where erewhile men stood as masters,
When AI is showing the door
To humble men for tasks they perform,
The divide between rich and poor nations,
The chasm between those who wield wealth
And those who their sweats do transform
Into a loaf to sustain their soul
Becomes as unbridgeable 
As the northern and southern poles.

When climate change is threatening
The lives and livelihood of millions
Of mortals in vulnerable countries,
More so amidst African nations
And the most in small island states
That least contribute to emission
Of waves of noxious greenhouse gases
And the sequels of global warming,

When calls to lend a helping hand
From countries blasted by global warming
Are just filtered to a dead end
Or elicits but meagre backing
From advanced nations of the world,
The chasm between giant creators
And needy victims of global warming
Widens beyond the reach of a bridge.

When the ill-fated pandemic
And the Russian war in Ukraine
Have driven public debt to soaring heights,
Rendered growth efforts in vain
And worsened all citizens` plight
Amidst developing nations
Well beyond sustainable sight,
When servicing of public debt
Absorbs resources for basic needs
And becomes a pervasive threat
Instead of a tool for development,

When overseas assistance keeps dwindling
And the heart of nations decays,
When advanced nations lend deaf ears
To pleas of countries in dismay,
Crippled with intense debt burdens
And dipping deep down the abyss,
The chasm between the world`s wardens
And distressed developing nations 
Becomes truly unbridgeable
As the sky and the earthly region.

Only a change of human heart
To breed the seeds of compassion
And instil in it love of man for man,
Only a change of global relations
And financial infrastructure
in the midst of one and all nations
To make the world a global village
Where flourish the fond flowers of humanity
Can bridge the unbridgeable chasm
And shed on earth lights of Divinity.

Let not the virtuous vision
Of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”
Remain just a colourful dream,
But rather let us all nurture
The seeds that in the days to come
Will give rise to a glorious world
Where every nation, every mortal
Can eye the flag of peace high unfurled,
Lead a life of shared prosperity,
With due respect to the earthly sphere
That will redeem humanity;

Let us build a long-lasting bridge 
With the precious bricks of compassion
That will link man to man of every race,
Of every creed and conviction
And usher in a span of Divine grace
That in the scroll of human history
Will for ever and ever leave its trace
And shine like a gem till eternity.


      *The poem shares some reflections, from the broader perspective of humanism, on the main themes of two international meetings held recently, namely (i) the African Caucus meeting of IMF and World Bank Governors of the African continent in Capo Verde from 6 to 8 July 2023, and (ii) the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting under the Indian Presidency in Gujarat, India, from 17 to 18 July.

     The main theme of of the first meeting was “New Modalities and Mechanisms to Finance Economic Development in Africa”. Under this theme, discussions focused on (i) Public Debt as a Financing Instrument for Growth in Africa Within New Global Financial Infrastructure (ii) Unlocking Climate Change for Africa (iii) Fostering Energy Financing for Africa and (iv) Private Sector Development in Africa: The case of African Small States.

     Under the Indian Presidency theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, participants discussed on a host of international issues, including (i) Global Economy and Global Health (ii) Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure (iii) International Financial Infrastructure (iv) International Taxation and (v) Financial Sector and Financial Inclusion.  

     The poem calls for a change in human heart and nurturing of the seeds of compassion to bridge the growing chasm between man and man.
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