Friday 10 July 2020

Simple Happiness and the Little Sorrows











In a Facebook literary group, a friend Sundar Rajan  posted  this picture.  He sought poems from members based on the picture. This is what I came up with ..

We, rather our ancestors chose
fishing for a living 
Like anyone else
our lives too are a mixture
of pain and pleasure 
of simple happiness and little sorrows

We face risks aplenty, though
uncertain source of livelihood 
when red alerts declared 
tough times when dark clouds 
are followed by floods and cyclones! 

We are rarely remembered 
in fact mostly forgotten
even by those having 
a hearty meal of fish curry rice
or a tasty dish of fried fish or prawns.. 

Sometimes noticed, when ideas strike
to make money filming our environs
of blue sky, the blue ocean
natural beauty in all it's glory 

Movies  are then made of "little fish" 
'boatman' going fishing 
or being a "Friend of fisherman" 
then, forgotten soon after the movie is a hit! 

It is the same story at the time of floods
we take our boats on narrow roads
to save lives, supply food to stranded people 
for some time you clap, hail us as heroes
put up our  flex boards like those of film stars!  

Soon , life is back to normal 
no one cares of  boats damaged in rescue
not realizing , bothering that the damage
is to our very livelihood!
 
Soon the flex boards of film stars are back 
replacing us easily, our utility no more
who cares for the curry leaves 
after the meal is done!

In this picture though we are not grumpy
the catch after all, isn't so bad today 
it is these little pleasures that are the silver lining
in the lives of us fisher folk...

Filled with, the simple happiness
and the little sorrows.... 

    


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6 comments:

  1. A fisherman's life... beautifully versed.

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  2. Your poem is a brilliant one Rajeev Ji. Just outstanding !

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Jeetendra! So happy you liked it!

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  3. Beautiful rendering and related well with the pic Rajeev

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Sarala! So happy you related to the post and liked it.

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