Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time there used to be
A Left in politics.
Now even the Centre cannot hold
Off the Right's umbilical trick
The Left remained a reasoning fool,
The Centre a shapeless sponge;
The Right is a focused Ninja
Trained to exact revenge.
Yet many a good woman and true
And sundry stubborn mavericks
Do not give up on their souls,
Braving the punches and kicks.
What cause then do we have
To distrust the human seed
That yet succeeds through calamities
To burgeon among the weed.
Roll up again the despairing sleeve,
Take up the labouring shovel;
Go bold among the rock and bramble,
No time to throw in the towel.
Badri Raina