independence

It’s the essence
The living breath
The must of every life.
Not an achievement
It’s just the start
Of building a life
On this foundation
Brick by brick
Stone by stone.
Not for me or you- for everyone.

It’s not for only me
It’s for all of us
A life of dignity
A life of light
A life of full plate
A life of covered body
Covered dignity
And a cover above our heads
Against sun, rain, storm.
Not for me or you- for everyone.

How can I say I am free, happy?
When my brother is in chain
My sister is abused
My mother cries tears of blood?
When the sound of their heavy chains
Keep ringing in my ears
As I lie in my velvet bed sleepless
Staring at the ceiling!
Their cries penetrate those walls
I have built around my heart.

How can I feel satiated, full?
When my brother’s child
Cries for a single piece of bread
When my sister’s son
Goes to work in brick kiln
While mine go to oxford and Cambridge
Theirs don’t even get a chance to read.
Is it the independence I seek?
Is this the fulfillment of my life?
Then where is brotherhood of man?

Sharmishtha basu
15.08.10
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true independence 18.09.10
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independence means
food clothe and shelter
for all
dignity to live
dignity to die
not for me and you
for every one
liberty is not property
of privileged ones
its for one and all
each and every soul

Sharmishtha basu
18.09.10

Flower in rags

Sitting on the park bench
Watching kids play
Dressed up like angels
Running, laughing all the way.

A rude refusal rang out
A sharp, cruel tone
Shattering the blissful
Lovely serenade.

I turned my face
Saw a sad scene.
A flower being ripped
By a bitter thorn.

A beautiful flower
Dressed in rags
Was trying to sell
A bunch of roses.

Some well-dressed mama
Thought she was too dirty
To come near her
Or her precious ones.

So she was applying her right
To make her understand
How unworthy she is
Of venturing so near her.

She turned to walk away
Scared and pale
Learning a lesson bitter
Too early in life.