People Understand

by Dharmpal Mahendra Jain / November 22nd, 2020

Bad! Bad!! Bad!!!
When they repeat it three times
everyone understands
that people have nothing
to be afraid of.
Putting up curtains, black, around the scene,
doormen obey their orders
to create darkness
so that the bosses may loot
and fill their personal treasure troves.

Reward! Reward!! Reward!!!
When they repeat it three times
people queue up,
carrying bundles of honesty
on their heads.
The country is filled with statements
of happiness, prosperity, and development.
Everyone understands
intelligentsia has a steep price.
Gentleness, simile, and metaphors
start pumping into language.

Freedom! Freedom!! Freedom!!!
When they repeat it three times
people lock their front doors
on their own
and hide from the back doors.
Everyone understands
the respect that is present
in the order
to keep mouths shut.

Born (1952) and raised in tribal reserve of Jhabua, India, Dharm is a Toronto based Author. He writes in Hindi and has seven published books- five collections of satirical essays and two collections of Poetry. He is a columnist for four prestigious journals Chankya Varta, Vishwa gatha, Setu & VishwAa. His works have appeared in prestigious Hindi journals across the world. His poetry in English has been previously published in Poetry Pause, Fresh Voices, Harbinger Asylum, Akshara, Impspired, Piker Press, Scarlet Leaf Review, Dissident Voice, and Setu. He can be reached at dharmtoronto@gmail.com and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dharmpalmahendra/ Read other articles by Dharmpal Mahendra, or visit Dharmpal Mahendra's website.

This article was posted on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020 at 8:03am and is filed under Poetry.