What You Know Of Black Money Poem by Sadashivan Nair

What you know of black money?
My mother...
The saved money,
From purchase of lentil, vegetable;
Hid sometimes,
in the corner of cupboard;
Sometimes under
Ironed dress or skirt;
Sometimes hid inside container,
Of flour and lentils;
Wife was more terrible,
Always her sight,
And hand was in my wallet;
Never returned the balance,
Of bigger denomination;
Always desperate to change,
From small to larger notes,
So was easier to conceal;
Bit by bit saved all her life,
Expecting for use,
In daughter's marriage;
Drug medicine on disease;
It will also come in use,
In old age, when,
No social security we will have;
Save bit by bit for future,
Is the poor man's economics;
But then came a shock,
The government declared illegal,
It's own currency notes;
What to do now?
Left in destitute,
No one to help;
Bit by bit,
Filled the piggy bank;
Shocked and broke our heart,
When the Government,
Broke piggy bank in one stroke;
Don't be so cruel,
Don't befoul our floor for bread;
Poverty may be black,
But hard earned money
Saved bit by bit,
To secure old age,
In insecure world;
Money saved drop by drop
Isn't black or crime;

© sadashivan nair