Wake up (NaPoWriMo)

Dissent and Debate stand there
showing the rule book to me again
wake up before it is too late,
they beseech earnestly,
we are being strangled bit by bit
Plurality is panting, parched for parity
Democracy will be on death bed without us
in the name of nationalism,    
Majoritarianism is asserting himself
parochial views are having a free run
mobocracy is on the rise
there is blood on the streets and hatred in hearts
lumpens and goons are deciding who will do what
how long do you intend to be quiet
how long will the naked dance of totalitarianism continue
they will be pounding at your door soon
wake up, wake up before everything is lost!

Today’s (optional) NaPoWriMo prompt is based on the aisling, a poetic form that developed in Ireland. An aisling recounts a dream or vision featuring a woman who represents the land or country on/in which the poet lives, and who speaks to the poet about it. Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that recounts a dream or vision, and in which a woman appears who represents or reflects the area in which you live. Perhaps she will be the Madonna of the Traffic Lights, or the Mysterious Spirit of Bus Stops. Or maybe you will be addressed by the Lost Lady of the Stony Coves.

Written also for Sadje.

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Whither democracy

A decuian

The soothsayer said, beware of March’s ides
but the tyranny of majority,
on tenth March, we saw ghastily rise
euphemistic name is democracy
false sense of pride is a priority
real issues fail test of survival
free-thinking voices  in minority
parochial views are on revival
ignoramuses swallow lies
long live despotism, democracy dies!

A tetracyts

In
my core
lives a hope
that will not die
I hold sunflowers close to my sore heart.

Written for dVerse MTB. Today’s host, Laura, says: So in today’s challenge I offer you a choice :-

a 10 line stanza poem (more stanzas permitted of this length)
10 syllables per line
rhyme scheme as per the Decuain or free verse if you’d prefer

AND/OR:

a 5 line stanza poem (more stanzas if you wish)
1;2;3;4;10 syllables for each successive line of the 1^st; 3^rd; 5^th  stanza etc; inverted for even numbered stanzas.

(The results of elections in five states of India came out on the 10th of March. Sadly, rising unemployment, inflation, state’s apathy during covid were not issues at all! Religion and a false sense of national security swayed the votes.)

Queue

She stands in the serpentine queue
with all the eligible voters from her family
under the blazing relentless sun
she is used to the queues,
queues for rations, queues for gas cylinders,
queues for dole,
queues for daily wages after back breaking work
she waits patiently for her turn
(like many around her)
to repay the cost of a saree,
some cash and a bottle of arrack
(for her good-for-nothing spouse)
not knowing that her vote
can make a difference
to the outcome of voting
and make a mockery of democracy.

She sits listlessly
under the humming air conditioner
sipping chilled daiquiri
watching with disinterest the serpentine queues
outside polling booths
not inclined to brave the heat and dust
to cast what she thinks is her meagre vote
(there are many like her)
she has never stood in a queue all her life
and elections won’t change that
her husband has an important meeting
her kids are holidaying in the Swiss Alps
the elections too inconsequential for them
thus democracy is mocked again.

She stands alone and proud in the queue
determined this time not to be bullied
to cast her vote according to others
passionate about voting on issues not the parties
inflation, education, safety, health her priorities
no party wants to talk about these mundane matters
they inflame passions on religion, caste and jingoism
surefire ticket to complete autocracy
she maybe a knocker, called a rabble-rouser and be all alone
registering her voice paramount for her
she won’t allow democracy to be mocked again and again.

Linking to OLN at dVerse being hosted by Björn.