PROMETHEUS BOUND

 

Dr. R. Rabindranath Menon

 

Corruption is a convenient stick

to beat the other, a pin to prick

high-flying balloons, the politics’ haversack

of devious methods, tools and jack

to change the wheels, and be back

on the tracks. A question of knack.

 

Investigation is the quick door

to enter, break open locks, and invent

inventories, then loot and lament

that less was found, be heard no more.

It’s invariably a search-light

used by the rulers to highlight

opponents’ misdeeds. Gestures, not justice,

its aim. Tropics swings from one solstice

to the other. The Cancer and the Capricorne

sways the winds. Norms stand overthrown.

 

Politics is the tic of ticks,

the coming to power of fiddlesticks.

When everything fails, the last resort

of the day-light dacoit to abort

the right sleeping in a self-destruct mode

of doubt, the wrong waiting with a sure code.

 

Three seas within, three seas without,

India waits like a Prometheus Bound.

 

 

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