Dr Kamran Haider Bukhari - The Beggar

In a super market
Hopes are for sale
50 % discount
On all kinds of goods
New or old
In-fashion or out-dated
All at a same and fixed price
No need to bargain
No worries of human error

Fine quality flour
Unmixed and untainted
Well-baked bread
Milky or brown
Olives, almonds and coconuts
Fine-looking and refined
Fruits, vegetables and cereals
Alluring and newly picked
Meat of all kinds and in all forms
Red or white
Raw or cooked
Halal or crucified
Anything you need
For your breakfast, lunch or dinner
Will be given to you
At a reduced price
What else you wish for?

A middle aged man looking like a beggar
Approaches the cash counter
Holding a small sized milky bread
In his right hand
How much for it Sir?
Just 10 Rupees
Sir
I only have 5 right now
My children are hungry
Kindly do me a favor
I’ll be grateful to you

You filthy beggar
Don’t you see?
We already selling at 50 % discount
And you asking for 50 % more
Put the bread back
And get lost

The so called beggar
Left in despair
And moved slowly
To the waterfront


Jan 04,2009

Dr Kamran Haider Bukhari

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-beggar-6/