A Manifesto That Mends Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Schools they want where teachers would teach,
More than a showy world of wealth,
A country rich nor of vast reach,
They want a haven of high health.

Good roads on which safely to drive,
Sensible leaders that make sense,
With hope who would remain so hence,
Clean waters that daily arrive.

What counts to those that rickshaws run:
Their hard-earned wages would retain
Shine sans ransoms to policemen,
And the corrupt criminal chain;

Clear title's what poor farmer wants
For a piece of land that he tends,
Bribes, nor bakshis in babu's hands
This is what a common man haunts.

And in polls we call general
Let voters truly speak their mind
As if they were municipal,
That keeps grand politics behind.

A way where wheels to way-up works,
Not just muddles, twiddles and twirls,
They want straight-face deals sans vain curls,
No one wherein from duty shirks.

Simple things standing in front row,
Not beating around fancy bush,
Want ways and means that steady grow,
Want honest heads prying a push.

Long have they played musical chairs,
Now want real change, not hit and miss,
Manifestos not musing in thin airs,
They want rainbows long in promise.
_____________________________________________________
It is election time, a season of false promises, claims and counter claims. Few politicians bother to find out what people really want. Here is a wish list. No big promises, people want first simple things of day-to-day life.
______________________________________________________
Musings | 01.12.04|