MERCILESS MASSACRE!(Bihar Mid-day Meal/School Tragedy/ India)

MERCILESS MASSACRE!

(Bihar Mid-day Meal /School Tragedy / India)


Oh Bihar! Your precious children, for who we mourn; 

Couldn’t just bear what the Saran District just encountered;

The midday meal massacre of twenty three school children;

And more innocent lives that hang in balance getting ready for exit!

 

The day that dawned was not so indicative of such a big crime!

As the children bid the last goodbye, to their compassionate parents!

Innocently they smiled and left their homes; playfully to school,

Not knowing they wouldn’t be back even if the dusk set in!

 

The death knell rung and the classes commenced;

Teachers registered the morning roll and in place they sat;

Lessons they learned and had a respite, at the break;

Yelled, scooted, and scattered; when the bell rang, inviting them in!

 

The last two classes, with no hic-cups they had;

And rushed for meal unaware of the biggest death trap!

The sting of pesticide in  food, they couldn’t just sense,

As the killer meal quenched their great appetite.

 

Writhing in pain and shouting for help,

Like nine pins they fell, crying in vain;

Neighbors and parents and unknown people

Rendered their help wasting no time.

 

‘God’ they called, pleading for help!

They crowded the hospitals, expecting  miracles!

As the death toll raised at regular intervals,

The parents went insane, losing last hope!

 

Oh! What an abrupt end to children so young!

Could the school be a slaughtering place?

How could the authorities be so negligent?

To play with such, young and innocent lives!

 

The woes of parents are not yet over,

As so many fight for their precious lives;

In hospitals and homes the wail is still heard!

And there is no stopping; for the time being!

 

Whose children are they? Aren't they ours?

Don’t we know their right to live, and live for long?

Should we nip them in bud, for our selfish motives? 

And take their lives off, for our vested interests?

Author's Notes/Comments: 

This is a poem that says about the tragic death of twenty three school children who lost their lives after consuming mid-day meal which was contaminated by pesticides a few days ago! The anguish of parents and the people around knew no bounds leaving many good-hearted people with broken hearts! What if; it happens to our own children?  The funniest thing is; the Head of School is still at large, avoiding arrest! Do our children take their education under such heartless people?  It's hard to understand. Don't we have any credibility or accountability?

Ben

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ohmygatos01's picture

"Aren't they ours?" Very

"Aren't they ours?" Very powerful. 

pbenarumairaj's picture

Reply

Thank you so much for reading my poem and passing your comment on it. I appreciate your 'sense of appreciation and your compassionate feeling for others'.

Ben

pbenarumairaj's picture

Reply

Thanks for owning up responsibility!

Ben

bishu's picture

Death Sans Merci

Death Sans Merci = Excellent write !!!!! Thanks Raj Sir. Can you imagine the small hungry children who go to school only for the  attraction of one square meal. Probably the food was having some bad taste but the hungry children ignored the taste... they were too much hungry. Really , really sad.. I'm very happy you wrote an ode to the tragedy of poverty.Full bellied people can never understand what it is it to go hungry !!! We can only pray for the tiny departed souls.. Maybe someday good sense will prevail..Thank you Sir. Today I wrote of techies struggle, Natures colours and a poem which you have read"Timekeeper".

~ God bless ~


©bishu