The passing away of one year
And
The beginning of another
Rings the bell at midnight to herald
The awakening of another
The months are the same
They follow one another as always
The days too are the same
So also, are the dates then what exactly is new?
We rise up as usual every morn
The sun proclaims the day
Followed by noon, dusk, evening and night
Nothing has changed.
The sun to rule the day,
The stars and the moon to rule the night
Night to rest, day to toil and moil,
Not to laze around aimlessly
‘Picking pockets’
Every year, every day demands
Rise up and greet the day.
By ignoring hard work and labor
‘Demands’ outgrow resources
The nation becomes poorer by the day.
The disabled are stronger in mind, body and spirit
They rise up beyond themselves and ‘conquer’ the summit
The nation is proud they do not demand
They do not beg, they do not downgrade themselves
They are proud of their achievements
They do not cry for ‘mercies’
They do not strut on ‘crutches’
It empowers them to lead a moral life
Their strength of will conquers their physical weaknesses
Despite our economic growth
The country has become poorer in conscientiousness
The morality is lost in browbeating and ‘ivory towers.’
~Shobha Diwakar
Jabalpur, India
It’s a beautiful poem. The line ..’They rise up….& Conquer the summit’ is what we all should aim for.
thanks ASB it’s a great lesson to be learnt from those who are deprived in some form or the other