glorious city with colorful lights
glittering with gold, with best lifestyle
fancy people belong here
they all wear hats and long coats
their shoes polished shining
their language articulate
men always walk with pride
their ladies always glowing and bright
each one of them own a house big and plush
inside they sit and relax
while they sip their english tea in expensive cups
someone not so polished sweats
this someone not so polished, is the servant who does’t sleep
the one who cooks for a family of 20, for him there’s nothing to eat
he doesn’t wear shoes of any kind, nor does he speak good language
always he walks behind the master carrying his master’s luggage
his children have never seen a school, neither have they seen a playground
for they are forced to follow the footsteps of their father
they never step out of the servant’s quarter
generations to come shall follow the tradition
children of masters to remain masters
to rule the children of the servants
slowly, the glittery glorious city, birthing a city
that’s dull, full of pain
A strong text my dear. Yet some manage to raise above their fate. Not enough, but some do. Hopefully many more will. Our maid has been with us 25 years. She put her son through college. He is now an engineer. The first person of the village to have a university degree. One is a start. 🙂
(And I love the painting of the Opera)
Have a lovely week.
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You made me day babuji. This brings so much happiness to me to learn how your maid has made her own fate by raising her son to be an educated person. This is a relief. Yes, here in India too, things are changing. Every person with limited means is trying to send their kids to school. If not their generation, the next will surely have a bright future. Thank you for sharing with me.
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You are quite welcome Ma’amji. I did a research once that showed that Education is THE single most significant factor correlated to development as measured by GDP per capita. It doesn’t matter if there are holes in the street, if there are power shortages, as long as children go to school. ALL children. 🙂
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Absolutely… i feel very strongly about it too…
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And the other factor related to growth and development is girls’ education. The lower the percentage, the worse the country’s development. 😦
Sad but it also points in one very simple direction: get all girls to school… 😉
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Yea.. we have that drive in india.. it is changing, but will still take muxh more time in the rural areas to become a reality
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And India is still 70% rural or am I mistaken?
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Hmmm, I need to check for the exact percentage
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It may be an old figure I have in mind. Also depends a lot on definition. Here for instance, “Urban” is any “city” over 2,500 inhabitants which is very small.
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This was quite a bittersweet one. Wishing you well from New York. 🌃
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Thanks a lot my friend. Appreciate it. I have been to New York once. It is an amazing city. I loved the generosity of the people. They were kind, helpful and smiling.
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I like the content ; your words are true!
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Thanks Deary
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It’s interesting how strict society roles are followed. I am glad you are working for change.
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Yes my dear. The good part is that the things seem to be changing for good.
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Wisely recognized. Rarely seen.
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True.. but thankfully, things are changing for good now. Everybody from the weaker section of the society are providing education to their children. Thanks a lot for reading
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Your writing strikes a deep chord. I try to get it in whenever possible.
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That is a beautiful compliment. I guess all of make these observations about the society, the world around us. It is just that some people choose to not ignore and some more choose to pen it down. Thank you so much
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children of masters to remain masters
to rule the children of the servants
slowly, the glittery glorious city, birthing a city
that’s dull, full of pain
Damn….powerful
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Thanks Dear Shane. This was a common practice earlier and even now in some areas. And now, things seem to be changing for good. People are paying emphasis to the education of their children and to make them have a brighter future. Thanks for reading my dear.
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A slum and a suite, separate by a road – a common story of any big city
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O yeah.. you witness that so much in Bombay
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yupp, glass towers shadowing shabby slums
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A powerful indictment of divisions
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True my dear.. sigh!
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Awesome poem Sestina! I appreciate how it reflects injustice in our world. How one class of people exists to serve a wealthier group. I think so many people are used to this disparity that they think nothing of it. Poems like yours shine a light on this terrible disparity. We must end this!
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You are absolutely right Roland. Also, the good thing is that the weaker section is now rising. They are educating their children for a better tomorrow. Thanks for reading
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Wow, this is amazing
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Thank you my dear!
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You are welcome
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