by B. R. Gowani
(A street kid waits to be served with porridge during a feeding program timed for the United Nations declaration of World Day for Social Justice Saturday in Manila, Philippines. As election in the country draws near, political groups capitalize on the poverty in the country as they try to adhere to the call of the Catholic church to do good to the people and feed the hungry. AP/Pat Roque Jakarta Post)
The elite hijacked social justice
Poverty killed self-dignity
Hunger forced him to this place
The eyes are positioned on the food-server
Just for porridge!
Elections are approaching
So hunger has forced
The greedy vote-eaters to be in the open
For some time, food will be given
Promises will be showered
Then the poor will be robbed
Of their only wealth: the vote
“Corruption is the worst enemy …
[It] robs the state of the resources
To prosecute the war against poverty.”
Gloria said this in January 2003
Poor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo!
Did not know it is not easy to fight
Ms. Corruption is too charming
Can befriend you in no time
Gloria got seduced by her new friend
So she wants to continue serving people
For people’s sake, she’d go to any extreme
These politicians, country’s nemesis
Arroyo does not want to leave power
While the Steel Butterfly, Imelda
Is back on the scene
“I love beauty and I am allergic to ugliness”
Can’t face it, and she can’t remove ugliness
The poor will donate their votes
For a fresh bowl of porridge
The leaders will fool the nation
With a new dose of hypocrisy
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com