The fish in the stagnating river
Covered in sludge
And smelling of sewage
Bobbed up to the surface
And said
Life is short brother
Take care of this river
Mairay after
Out of the pale grey dusty sky
Beak open and exhausted
The little bird came and said at my window
Phew! Climate Change. Cellphone towers.
My friend - life is short.
Look after this wide open sky
Mairay after
Across the garbage littered path
Carrying a heavy load home
The busy ant paused a while to say
Hey! This world is huge
But life is very short my dear
Take care of it
Mairay after
Covered in dust and soot
By the roadside struggling to live
A tiny flower of brightness
Seemed to say
Life is short my friend
Take care if it
Mairay after
At the Foundation Stone
And dedication ceremony
Amidst marigold and incense
The V V I P patted the head
Of the puzzled little boy watching
And said
How else how will you remember me Beta ji
Mairay after.
* NOTE
Mairay After (Hindi + English) = After Me or - When I am no
more
Beta ji = My son
V V I P = Very Very Important Person
© Deepak Manchanda, July 31,2015
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem