Struggling Workers

by Rajender Krishan

Millions today
       toil to survive
       struggle to uphold
       self-esteem and household
leave their homes
by choice or under duress
to earn the reward of work
       that's scarce to find

In this milieu
of burgeoning population
environmental pollution
inspiration and perspiration
the stimuli of hope
keep trying hesitantly
        giving timid assurance
of return before dark!

And, perhaps be able to
broom the dust of the day's fatigue
bring food to the table
nurse the young children
who remain mesmerized
in a dream world
built on fantasies

Blessings are counted
that one is back
in the four walls
festooned with
tarnished windows
blemished doors
precariously hinged
for security
to the framework
that’s fast disintegrating
to become
a derelict skeleton
of crumbling economy
and chaotic social order

01-Dec-2012

More By : Rajender Krishan

Views: 1621 Comments: 8

Comments on this Poem

Well presented!

Jennifer Marie Bayer
07-Dec-2012 01:35 AM

Reality of workers and artisans well captured and articulated...

Padmaja Iyengar
04-Dec-2012 02:22 AM

Workers of the world Unite- this slogan is poeticised beautifully by Rajenderji

Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee
03-Dec-2012 12:06 PM

Nice. Very true for a majority in the developing world.

Subhajit Ghosh
02-Dec-2012 23:39 PM

You refined it even much better. I like it much more. Cheers.

V.K. Joshi
02-Dec-2012 07:34 AM

Indeed abeautiful poem with a beautiful picture. It brings out the pathos of the working class too well.

Julia Dutta
01-Dec-2012 19:38 PM

Indeed the the sense of insecurity imparts an insane rhythm to modern life. Well, then , as you say , hope is the engine that drives us forward. Good thoughts there.

pgrnair
01-Dec-2012 10:20 AM

A telling story!

Pavalamani Pragasam
01-Dec-2012 08:36 AM