Saturday, March 2, 2024

Bharat Ratna Awards

 


  

Here are two poems on the state of the nation.


Bharat Ratna as Consolation Prize

 
He was a formidable contender
aspiring for an Everest-like pinnacle
he stood at the base
from where he espied the peak
The climb seemed impossible
so steep so slippery
yet he was determined to go up
at any cost
by any means
by daring his opponents
by shedding blood
by razing a structure
by insidious stratagems
 
He almost reached the top
Just one step more…
but he was bettered
by a rival!
by fate!
 
He tried another ruse
a fatal miscalculation
that misfired
and he fell flat on his face
spread-eagled
never to rise again
another nurtured by him
appropriating his Herculean labours
 
He was flicked out
like a fly from milk
silenced
wrapped in oblivion
 
The winner had become a loser
 
Yet after Ramlalla was installed
they unwrapped him
As they dished out a bunch of Bharat Ratnas
one was tossed into his lap
as consolation prize
---

 

Raining Guarantees

 

During the last seventy years

they did nothing worthwhile

at best they were measly miserly

 

Today we are showering guarantees on all

on th hungry

on the homeless

on the old

on the sick

on woman

on farmers

on one and all

 

Further we have opened safe havens

for those chased by sarkari bloodhounds and handcuffers

they have just to walk in with their baggage

 

And above all

We are dishing out Bharat Ratnas

for those who feel their leaders have been left out

Now Ratnas are theirs for the asking

at a price though

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