Slum Dweller Poem by Tirupathi Chandrupatla

They call me
Slum dweller
I agree not
Here was I born
Here do I live
I've a close knit family
People help one another
Our shack was built
From parts gathered
By members of my family
And those who lived before
It's compact
We keep it clean
Our people serve
In the shops and buildings
And form the workforce
For factories around

Politicians come
At election time
Promises they make
And then disappear

We drink water
From a tap far off
Facilities lacking
A matter of adjustment

Tourists're brought
To see our surroundings
Like visiting abandoned homes
Affected by a hurricane

Can our lives be improved?
Yes, by all means
Let there be some effort
To make this happen.