A STRONG VOICE
- P C K Prem (India)
Bestow on me a strong voice amidst muteness
of multitudes
to awaken to truth of
violence haunting children and women
living loneliness and feel frightened, insecure and tears in eyes
even while gun-trotting masked men patrol
streets and fire at will
quoting consent of holy book a prist tells.
I beg for everyone a powerful arm to defend
the weak and the helpless
an ink to write on the face
of manm to become a man, a servant of god
and kill the sprite inside who prowls when
finds
aloneness of woman prone to
attack to cater to sensuous pleasures
and forget while escaping
into stupor even as priest preaches salvation
in modern power and sermons
enjoying state benefaction.
It is portrayal of a culture born ages back
but none agrees
I shout and spill blood in mirages in fear
and terror.
In the eyes that make noise
as voices remain mute.
Tell them of the five elements and of the
body mortal
it will all perish and disappear like social
justice that never materialized
but create fracas in the greatest panchayat
when netas break mike
and hurl chairs
but never pay for the loss
but get fat salaries and fleece the public
sans sense of penitence, a
mockery unprecedented.
and they are the devotees
of common man!
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