Hi, I was hoping we could talk for a little while
They say this village is this country’s last mile
This is where everything ends, this is where everything starts
Your life captured in little dots on your fingers and our charts.
Did they come again to ask you for your precious day?
To rant and rant till that shining machine flies them away
A million bucks to buy that bird safe and nice
And yes, it was bought by your money from last season’s rice
Ever wondered why they flew as opposed to drive?
See, even their mighty SUV’s need a road to arrive
They didn’t build no roads for sixty years
Even with a million unemployed engineers
You voted didn’t you?
Walking for miles to that booth
They have been coming every five years I have been told
In the heat of the summer, sometimes in the cold
To villages like yours, far and remote
Darn your vote, your vote your vote
That rich star on TV says even your poor vote counts
To deliver, to change, to lead it all amounts
It is for your children, so you are told
Where were they when your mother was sold?
You voted, didn’t you?
And your father did too
There are national issues that you should care about
The government is a thief the opposition shouts
The opposition was a thief when it was in power
Shouts the government every hour
They would call everyone a threat apart from you
You are not Chinese; you are democracy’s select few
Do you know they are all pals when no one is around
Laughing behind your back, in their town
You voted, didn’t you
Well, the jokes on you
Democracy will always be safe and sound
What goes around, comes around
They have been coming around only when they could
You want them to be gone for good
Soldiers die so you could have this glorious afternoon
To elect thieves who will send more to die soon
Thank you for listening to me this while
I hope a leader gives you a reason to smile
It is fashionable these days, so I will end my poem with a quote
“Please go out and vote, vote and vote”
8 comments:
True!!!! but leaves a tinge of negativity in me....you are right its fashionable to say VOTE but is there any other way???
Nice one!
You make the situation sound so dismal. And realistic.
Have you read "The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga? Its paints a good picture (and I believe, true picture) of voting in the villages.
Hehe. I enjoyed the projected stoicism :)
This is what has been troubling me, really really bothering me. You know why? It would be the first time I would vote :P
Did you read their agendas telling how each would be a refreshing change?
How giving a simple vote would garner you so much in exchange?
Was it really their words, their hearts ripped apart for our motherland
Or a young intelligent writer behind them, told to run his imagination wild, all part of the big plan?
@ Addu, Atrisa
No. There is no other way. We have to vote and select the best from what we have!
I voted last time in the assembly polls. It is another thing that the person I voted for, jumped his party after getting elected.
I have also voted this year as well. And this time I am wiser since I have voted for the person and not the party. There is not much difference between the parties in this election, so i think it is important we understand the person and what he stands for.
The poem, yes is negative, but it was written to evoke responses. Sometimes a debate occurs only when one takes a certain position.
Plus I love to take potshots whenever I see 'ad hoc industries' forming around issues. The vote movement is however good, and should be strengthened.
@ Anonymous.
Drop in your name next time.
You are right about the 'real' picture.
However, on a positive note, India has been very lucky in the last 2 Lok Sabha elections to have 2 very good prime ministers in the form of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. At the national level, the only thing that Union Ministers can do is come up with programs that have long lasting impact, and try to strengthen the implementation. Both were very good in that sense.
India really has been very lucky as far as prime ministers are concerned. Another ten years, and I am certain that the 'real' picture will change.
India cannot be stopped, it is no longer an idea. Its time has come.
You dont fail to amaze
-Meera
Aptly sarcastic .. to drive the point home ..!!!
Point put across very powerfully. But my complaint with many (of my own age-group) remains. We all are masters at pointing out the problems and fallacies of the system.
Not that that is wrong or should not be done. But it would be nice to find some solutions or at least suggestions to solutions once in a while.
Nice read! (in case my desh bhakti over dose cast a cloud on the praises I meant to shower)
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