Greed. Poem by Nabakishore Dash

Food, water, clothing, shelter
are the basic needs
for survival of man.
Possession of excess of things
is definitely inhumane.

We inhabit a wonderful planet
where the sun gives,
the moon gives, the rivers give,
and the trees give.
But man is the only animal
to collect, amass, hoard and hide.

There is no greater disease than greed and greed is the seed
from which germinate
all the vice trees,
delusion being the roots,
untruths are the shoots.

Greed is broader than sky,
deeper than ocean,
is a bottom less pit,
none can estimate its height.

Never a good attribute of life,
is worst satan of man
who is drowned in scams,
money laundering,
killing, robbery,
and all corruptions.

Whatever, whichever ways we try
greed does not attain satiation.
Rather exhausts and humiliates,
dethroning man from
power and position.

Some become fugitive,
some commit suicide,
some are imprisoned for life
some run to hide.
Those who manage to escape
always remain in fear and anxiety, stung by pain
even in their pleasure,
being deprived of peace
from their treasure.

God has given enough
to satisfy our need.
But enough is not enough
for a man for whom
enough is too little.
Wealth can bring prosperity
as well as adversity
that depend on how we will.

Birth, deaths, scars
of our fellow men
must have taught us a lesson
that neither birth nor death
is accompanied by any possession.
Hence let us not run
after such meaningless
acquisition that does not
give any satisfaction.