Haves and Have Nots

In the early wintry morn
When birds make chirps of the day
In the crowded city,
Some faces crowd around
The small 'gumati'-
A roadside tea and biscuits stall-
Ears covered with a muffler,
Soiled, dirty, spotted,
A rickshaw puller comes there
With mouth open for gulping down
Some pieces of brown biscuits
Before warming himself with hot tea.

A "car wallah" also appears
Full woollen sleeves on,
He takes out biscuits from the jar
Not to finish it as breakfast
But to feed the street dogs
Waving and waging their tails behind.

The "rickshaw wallah" and the dogs look
Happily satisfied and all at peace;
Waiting for the customers,
The "car wallah" disappears into fogs
Pulling a long face, unfazed
As a moron, morose and unsmiling
Restless, peaceless, speechless
Yet planning to make money after money.