Apathy… Poem by Ravinder Malhotra

Out in the cold on X’Mas eve
Under a winter sky,
To save her daughter born today
She must somehow try

The shelter for the night’s been razed
The Games are just around
The park is to be beautified
With grasses on the ground

But was it not this shelter that
Was erected a week ago?
'Please ask the Delhi Government
I’m afraid it had to go

I am from the MCD
My task’s been cut out
To clean, confiscate and sanitize
And what’s this all about

Of hapless people in the cold
And their blankets now all gone
They can huddle around the fire
Through the night till dawn'

She inches closer to the fire
The new born in her lap
The demolition team walks away
A plastic sheet covers her back

…………… © 2009 Ravinder Malhotra