Sankhajit Bhattacharjee Poem 152

Scientific Research Fellow in University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

POVERTY

Poverty was their pride-

my father, my grandfather, my great grandfather...

They lived a life, where poverty encroached like a heartless hunter,

who had hardly any knowledge about ecological balance.

They belonged to the priest community of Bengal-

honest and humble Brahmins, whose profession was to worship-

worship can never be a crime, it’s an honourable job

but poverty had stolen the crown of honour forever-

they were regarded as low.

Still their honesty and humbleness forced them

to consider poverty as pride and nothing else.

Though I have declared war against poverty,

I think their lives were more glorious than mine.