Democracy Poem by Saroj Padhi

Ours is a great democracy,
we proudly say -
when lies rule our lives here
and truth is a poor casualty,
fear gags the voice of conscience
and ugliness butchers beauty;
tingles of coin decide tones of relation
in the blind alleys of living,
terror treads easy miles
into open spaces of our breathing;
muscles of mafia muzzle voice of truth
when cops mock law
and justice takes the back seat,
news about anti-nationals hug headlines
when millions affected by malnutrition
have hardly anything substantial to eat;
We are a great democracy, we proudly say
where babus enjoy fruits of corruption,
capitalists savour crores' tax exemption
but poor farmers, unable to pay off paltry loans
commit suicide out of frustration!
We are a great nation indeed
for our people still practise
those old ways of thinking -
making gods of babas
who enjoy sexual anarchy
Saroj K. Padhi Moon Moments / Page 21
in the name of religion,
when our teachers are roughed up in public
during demand for right remuneration!
Our democracy is great indeed
for our patience with injustice knows no bounds
in our ceaseless crawl for a living
without a solid purpose or any direction!