‘Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well
as the earth.’ ~Henry David Thoreau
The little rag-picker
Stares at me from
a pile of trash
Laughs ….lewdly mocking me,
Returns ...to pick a piece
from the erected litter
--that men have gathered over the years
in the name of progress!!
He combs and combs ..
hoping to glean all that’s good-
-Ah, a morsel at a
time is all he needs!
Today, we live in a huge plastic bag,
There’s little to breathe…
Lungs reeling with suffocation …
yet
we haven’t learnt to put a stop ..
Plastic bottles, sandals, broken keyboard, computers
Heaps of
bags, car-parts are all dumped,
................and live on!
Cold reality and despair lay in every corner.
Is it greed, lust or a bitter satisfaction...?? He smiles,
...a smile of self deprecation
shifts the pack on his shoulders and moves.
In the night,
Sprawling on the pavement
Recounting the days’ catch; he laments
The ruins of foolish human crimes
‘Ah the
little pigs’…he murmurs, belching
Oh how I love the Thoreau quote, which i had not come across. He would be appalled by today's level of contamination! This is an apt poem, Panchali, the height of human folly. I think plastic is one of the worst things ever invented.
ReplyDeleteToday's level of devastation goes against Thoreau's principles.Yes, he would be so upset that he would be rolling over in his grave rather than quietly resting,..Thank you, Sherry!
DeleteThis is so comic and full of wisdom... well its a wonder why God has created women so as to help guide men :D
ReplyDeleteHe combs and combs ..
hoping to glean all that’s good-
-Ah, a morsel at a time is all he needs!
What would they do without us! ;)
Loved your poem!
xoxo
Love to see you here, Sanna. It gives me a chance to share with you something close to my heart... :))) Thanks a lot!
Deletexoxo
Sometimes gleaning all that is good is difficult. So much plastic waste, it seems we swim in it. And we keep throwing out more and more, and the trash piles grow. Sigh. This is quite a commentary on the underside of human nature.
ReplyDeleteNATURE CRIES AND WE TURN OUR BACK....Wish, we could all see
DeleteMother Nature's anguish , her suffering and horror concerning what humans are doing to her. Thank you for your words, Mary. Feel grateful :)
"Today, we live in a huge plastic bag," Yes, the height of foolishness--it says right on the bag that it could suffocate! Putting a character in here lifts this poem out of the ordinary to a scene that communicates on so many levels that it is a complete and unique experience. I like his thoughts and belch as he drifts off to sleep. I never thought of the trash pickers having anything in common with the greedy destroyers of all. Bravo!
ReplyDelete'Foolishness' brings to me, a visible expression from nature as to what we are doing to her, Susan.
DeleteThank you for dropping in... and for the fact that you enjoyed reading the poem.. knowing that inspires me to write more... :)))
That was, indeed, a great prompt!! Thank you!
I think you depict one of human's biggest foolish tragedies. I'm trying to live as simply as possible, make as little garbage as I can, still I contribute plenty towards the pollution in this world. I like your poem Panchali. Though it's one of the saddest I've read.
ReplyDeleteI can see that you are really trying to do something great, Myrma. As a consumer, I also carry my re-usable cloth bags with me to the store. I carry my water bottle with me everywhere, so that I need not buy bottled water. But, I'm still getting the plastic pouch for milk. There are still some things we just can't ignore. ...At least not yet.
DeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts which make me feel grateful and humble. :)))
The poem reminds me of 'Kolkatar Jishu' by Nirendranath Chakraborty...I wonder at the rag picker...he does make me halt and reflect over human folly that's drowning us in a sea of breathless misfortunes...such a thought provoking write Panchalidi....
ReplyDeleteAh, 'Jesus of Calcutta' depicts one of the hundreds of destitute and homeless refugees crowding Kolkata’s streets, a common enough sight when the poet wrote the poem during the 60s...Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them, Sumana!
DeleteI hope Thoreau's quote remans true. Enthralling poem despite the message.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Rosemary... it is gratifying to have discerning readers like you... :)))
DeletePoets have a voice and speak such truth that in ages hence people will say "If only we had listened and taken heed". We must keep shouting out like you Panchali.
ReplyDeleteI'll just say THANK YOU, Robin.I cannot change the entire world, but I can be responsible for my life. .
DeleteThanks for the understanding...If we can set a good example and refuse to buy anything in plastic, then hopefully others will follow us... :))))
Thanks for coming by...:)
All of us clicking mouse and keying in letters on computer are on the right side of this absurd social arrangement. It was refreshing to see someone from our community (the haves) writing with this degree of empathy.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for your visit and for the kind words you are leaving behind, Ashwini... :)))
DeleteHope I'll see more of you... :))) Thank you!!
A tough subject taken on with a sly humour - you've exposed true foolishness here :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by.., Clarey! I am happy you found this worth reading. Thank you.. :)))
DeleteHope to see you more on these pages...
What a surreal and illuminating piece...makes me feel quite ashamed on behalf of us humans
ReplyDeleteThank you for the appreciation, Jae..it means a lot to me... :)))
DeleteYes Thoreau learned a lot but never related the most important part. "If someone offers doughnuts take the doughnuts."
ReplyDeleteHang in there, and things will improve, someday. Really.@Meisner! :))
DeleteWhat we have done to the environment is a big sin and we only have to pay it's price
ReplyDeleteYou said it, Vandana. I enjoy having you here too... it is flattering to say the least. Thank you. :))
DeleteLove the idea that we are all living in a plastic bag. Too true!
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragedy...isn't it?? Thanks for being here, purple pen 😊
Delete