Fiction Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The Protector - 3

Rule of law is a fiction
even in a democracy
if those in power nurture
authoritarian greed.

To achieve this end
they play untidy games,
religion and patriotism,
to hoodwink the poor,

while the nation sinks
from ruin to catastrophe
they drink power, live power
and stay inebriated in power.

They encourage their men
to indulge in widespread crimes,
to sow fear in the detractors
and favour those who support.