Fire The Crackers From Sivakasi Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

Oh, the ‘Sparkler’ thrills the young!
Fearful tots, ye hold small ‘Pencils”.
The school boys spurn the ‘Sparrow Crackers’,
but ‘bullet bombs’ make them cheerful.
College-goers explode only ‘Atom Bombs’,
for they know not how to make them.
‘Flower Pots’ bring close all those ‘round
but ‘Ground Wheels’ wheel and whirl them all.
Look! ‘Lakshmi Crackers’ they try to fire off,
but off they run leaving them untouched!
“Double Sound Crackers’ trouble
those who are dipped in books.

Oh, happy children of this globe!
You don’t know the makers of these wondrous things!
Drop outs born to drop-outs
who from six to six, mix Chemicals
which fix an earlier end to their life...
These frail men live around
that little Japan, Sivakasi
in huts adored by gutters.
They drink a water
that the grumbling earth gives.
Open-air toilets for their fairer folk
close before the Sun dawns.
Pigs bathe in sewers before their huts.

Their wages keep them ever bonded
and be they poor in joy but rich in sorrow.
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