Thursday, April 16, 2015

Foolish Men~

‘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







28 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. Today'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!

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  2. This is so comic and full of wisdom... well its a wonder why God has created women so as to help guide men :D

    He 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

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    1. Love to see you here, Sanna. It gives me a chance to share with you something close to my heart... :))) Thanks a lot!
      xoxo

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  3. 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.

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    1. NATURE CRIES AND WE TURN OUR BACK....Wish, we could all see
      Mother Nature's anguish , her suffering and horror concerning what humans are doing to her. Thank you for your words, Mary. Feel grateful :)

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  4. "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!

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    1. 'Foolishness' brings to me, a visible expression from nature as to what we are doing to her, Susan.
      Thank 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!

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  5. 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.

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    1. I 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.
      Thank you for sharing your thoughts which make me feel grateful and humble. :)))

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  6. 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....

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    1. Ah, '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!

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  7. I hope Thoreau's quote remans true. Enthralling poem despite the message.

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    1. Thanks for coming by, Rosemary... it is gratifying to have discerning readers like you... :)))

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  8. Poets 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.

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    1. I'll just say THANK YOU, Robin.I cannot change the entire world, but I can be responsible for my life. .
      Thanks 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...:)

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  9. 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.

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    1. Oh, thanks for your visit and for the kind words you are leaving behind, Ashwini... :)))
      Hope I'll see more of you... :))) Thank you!!

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  10. A tough subject taken on with a sly humour - you've exposed true foolishness here :(

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    1. Thanks for dropping by.., Clarey! I am happy you found this worth reading. Thank you.. :)))
      Hope to see you more on these pages...

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  11. What a surreal and illuminating piece...makes me feel quite ashamed on behalf of us humans

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    1. Thank you for the appreciation, Jae..it means a lot to me... :)))

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  12. Yes Thoreau learned a lot but never related the most important part. "If someone offers doughnuts take the doughnuts."

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    1. Hang in there, and things will improve, someday. Really.@Meisner! :))

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  13. What we have done to the environment is a big sin and we only have to pay it's price

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    1. You said it, Vandana. I enjoy having you here too... it is flattering to say the least. Thank you. :))

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  14. Love the idea that we are all living in a plastic bag. Too true!

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    1. Such a tragedy...isn't it?? Thanks for being here, purple pen 😊

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