Beggars Poem by Prafulla Kumar Panda

Although born on this lush earth
are stripped off food and comfort
like bastards stripped off nipples
of their mother's
and thrown out into the streets

pout out from the thickness of winter
they swarm like moths
on the land below the murky lamp
and jerk like a woman
wriggling under labor-pain,
are knocked down
by the Big Uncles
as soon the moon falls asleep amidst clouds

at dead of night
they lie like patients
with one's head behind other's feet
to spring up from a night's fitful fit
to compete with known members
as early birds to catch the worm
from moist crumbs and polythene

life's hardship starts at the wee hours
still buried under the sacks
they murmur a prayer to gods
when they're in conclave and share nectar

hence, they are hardly listened.

©Prafulla Panda, India
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