Why These Eyes I Have? Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

I want to be like the epic Kanthari
with my eyes covered.
For there are men who feel no a touch of mercy,
to help a begging woman, who needs
some money to educate her children.
But, if she floats a smile on her lips
they let at once open the shutters of their coffers.
A bitch heard the cries of a baby left in a pit
and was suckling her to keep her alive.

I want to be like the epic Tritharashtra
with my eyes totally eclipsed.
For the officers who rise by means mean and routes rot
amass wealth to own farm-houses and resorts
by shouting often, “ Work for the Poor”
and keep their subordinates under threats,
quoting the serial numbers of ‘Conduct Rules’.
Their farm-houses don’t sleep at night
as the girls of the tinsel-world come
to meditate and do yoga till dawn.

All the people young and old
In their hands the mouse hold;
Click to see the world of dirt
and get their learning minds hurt.
Losing contacts with books,
they are stuck in a rut.
The things like these I don’t want to see
and so keep my eyes closed for ever.
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Note: Kanthari and Tritharashtra are epic characters;
husband and wife.