On the Streets-A Subaltern Work
And on a dark night, I closed my eyes
So much was the calm even the best dream defies
With a flash of light and voices ended the peace
I saw unknown faces and I realized I was on the streets.
It was like 'The Judgement Day' to me
It was like hell poverty, hunger, and misery was all I see
I started walking on those lanes
To know, to feel the subaltern's pain.
At first, I saw a group of children
Playing with an old tyre, Behind it happily they all run
Half-fed, torn clothes, and happiness a paradoxical situation
I wished to ask them all I was looking for an explanation
But then I realized for their smile clothes, luxury, and toys were not the limitation.
Now in front of me was an old couple
Maybe remembering their good old days conveys their laugh and chuckles
How can they love each other? In their late age of white hairs
Money and fair faces were the things of they were unaware
Oh! Now I see how for each other they still care
Walking down a further, I saw a space with stall scars
Heard the side by storekeepers, Talking about how 'He' perished in poverty's survival war
From the other side of the lane, a voice came "It was hard"
He was the perished soldier of that war, owner of that empty yard
Maybe for poor people the saviour was not humans or the government but God
It hurt me, so like everybody else I walked away after giving him a respectful nod.
Down the road, I met a father and son walking happily down the road
The little kid had a big smile, He got a new toy and to every stranger he showed
I looked closely towards his father, barefoot he was I knew what he exactly sold
For the family, he gave up every dream and everything he owned
Having a family is his dream for him because I saw how happily he walked on that hot and rugged road.
On my way I met this little boy
He was selling hats in the age when he was supposed to play with toy
A gentleman asked him “For whom do you work? Arey you forced employed ? “
“For myself , I’m an orphan “ The boy replied in a Man’s voice
Gentleman wished to purchase all hats , For he was impressed by boy’s integrity
The boy refused the offer he was not like today’s spoiled kid who looks upto paternal charity .
The unheard heroes never got the fair share of life , but the riches with no work enjoy all amenities
After all it’s because of this deliberately made “devil of economic disparity “
And Now I was on the end of that street
From here I see - Lies , hate , violence, luxury, immorality, abuse and a life of sham - world of elite
If this dream is eternity I choose to retreat back on the streets.
Copyright © Sahil Yadav | Year Posted 2023
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