I went
All alone
Along the street
Among the crowd….
A distant speech
Disturbed my ears
A politician boo-booing
‘Children, future pillars of India’
People around
Clapped aloud
Confused me, mused
‘Am I the future pillar?’
I approached a palmist
Attest the future
My exposed palm
Electrified the creature.
His curious eyes
Google-searched for life-line
My scarred palm
Scared the palmist.
Peeping pain of my palms
Petrified him
Puzzled palmist, questioned,
‘Who are you?’
‘I, cracker-maker at Sivakasi
Beedi roller at Andhra Pradesh
Carpet weaver at Utter Pradesh
Rag picker at Metros
Table-boy at tea-stalls
Sex-worker at G.B Road
Different roles with one identity’
Was my answer.
Amazed palmist
Mused then
‘India at sixty
Future pillars with no dignity’
‘Future’ moves ahead
All alone
Along the street
Among the crowd……….
by j. john britto xavier
