veeraiyah subbulakshmi - Be thrifty..

when we look for our next dozen sweaters,
there are thousands have no even one.
wrap themselves in rags that are dirty,
lie on the sides hearing heavy sounds.

The trucks that carry tons,
The cars that carry none,
The rickshaws that carry nine,
never disturb the slumber they are in.

When the mid night parties irritate us,
When the crying of babies tortures us,
When the noise from neighbors threaten us,
How these people can sleep in noise?

a vagrant in Glasgow is no different
from a homeless in Edinburgh,
As these two are not at all
worse than homeless in India.

When the formers have dogs as pets.
the latter live with animals.
Bulls, cows, cats, dogs and reptiles underneath,
The life goes on for millions.

veeraiyah subbulakshmi

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/be-thrifty-2/