No Barriers Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Looking up at the National Flag
I could see the building far beyond
With a lone constable standing leaning
Against the parapet wall, protecting the CM!
High up at a distance the kite flies in circles.

Fifty years of Independence
Lot of excitement all over
Manohar Joshi our Chief Minister
Is making the speech:
Poor man, like Telemachus he does his duty.
The pigeons move noisily from the niches.

Lot of judges, secretaries and VIPs of the City
Dressed in formal wear,
Waiting to be noticed by others,
Feeling patriotic, moved and serious;
Looking to the uniformed police, and their rifles,
Commands, and movements
And getting affected, some to tears.
The parrots wing their way to the copper-pod trees.

The flag flutters in the breeze
After being still initially
And as CM’s speech progresses,
Three crows fly separately into view.

Against the blue sky,
The spongy white clouds
From the western horizon
And the Arabian sea
Move majestically eastwards
Ignoring the flag and independence.

15 AUGUST 1997