Promising New Year! ! ! ! Poem by Anil Kumar Panda

Break of a fresh dawn,
I got up to welcome New Year,
With hope, news paper would not let
Me down with news of rape and murder;

A cup of hot coffee,
I rushed for the morning paper;
Hurry, to know what is new,
I spilled some coffee on the floor;

Legs stretched on sofa,
I spread the page first;
Took a sip and put on glasses,
To get the morning blast;

Two hacked to death,
Family killed in a car crash;
Drunken lover came under a train,
While driving his motorcycle rash;

Rice has been stolen from godown
Meant to be distributed among poor;
Parents could not sleep in grief,
Their girls were raped by a venerated seer;

A girl can't go to school in shame,
For she does not have a dress;
Hunger, rape, insults and neglect
Have thrown her life into a terrible mess;

War is still there, no party likes
To compromise to bring peace;
The paper repeats about death and
Destruction, as if it's the world's wish;

This year will be like another year,
There will be no new dawn,
No freedom from hunger and bloodshed,
Never ever a promising day will born;

My mood came down low,
Could no more enjoy my drink;
Wish the world be better next year!
For now, my heart begins to sink;

Let me get ready for work,
With heavy head I have to drive a mile,
Wishes, hugs, embraces and many more
I have to go through displaying, a fake smile.

@Tiku 2014