Conscience Poem by Pravat Kumar Mandal

Conscience
P. K. Mandal

You may call me an atheist
I have no objection.
What is true, I think, I know well.
So I have no obstruction.

God, to me, is a consciousness
He judges the sinners.
Unseenly He does what He wants
And good to well-wishers.

Now what is Corona doing?
Nothing but punishing
Those of us who have neglected
His firm viewless footing.

Isn't he doing anything good?
He helps us find leisure,
He brings family together,
He acts like a joiner.

Those we lost in our business
Unknowingly got back.
Mother's affection, father's love -
Tell me who gave these back.

Sitting next to the grandparents,
Nowadays no matter,
Working with the dearest wife and
Gossiping together.

Spending time playing with the children
The happiest moment.
Frankly tell me who brought all these,
Showing no sentiment.

Well, what has Corona done wrong?
Tell me reasonably.
He's been killing people a lot
But not mercilessly.

His secret presence around the world
As the starvation maker.
One more charge, he has been bestowed
As the pandemic maker.

That's right, Corona has no sense.
Are we pure basil leaves?
The wars, the Great Wars we conduced
Slaughtered how many lives?

Observe two natures - ours and his
I find no difference.
If Corona is a virus,
What is our essence?

How many lives become lifeless
In our religion?
Will God be able to answer
This imbecile question?

As I raise the questions on God,
Call me an atheist.
And, as I do believe on Hope,
I am an optimist.

(April 29,2020)