UPLIFTMENT

 

UPLIFTMENT

 

Remorse shrouded the child with a book,

Unfit in merit list rejected admission,

The school is packed with parents agog,

Find their children are announced jump,

A few were in tears, checking emotions leaving,

Notices tender age kids  going out of school,

Thought, what will happen to these kids,

A year will be lost, no hope for study,

Caught sight of a child, dark eyes shining,

Ironed school dress tie, boots, book in hand,

His parent and elder sister telling to return,

He refused to go home, stay at school,

Difficult make him understand,

He is getting angry, trying to run inside,

Get keeper checked him, denied entry,

I, an onlooker virtually crying, wordless,

His father lifted him, kissed him a lot,

Look, baby, I shall get you admitted,

In another school far better, he was lying,

To see a tiny child get broken-hearted,

Standard seventh-class admission cost,

In private schools, glassy shine the best,

Magnificent compound buildings, a few,

The city boasts the best education talent skills,

Admissions cost per child a few hundred thousand,

Per year only, hostel boarding expenses,

Added a few more add donations two,

Half a million per year for a student,

Fixed were my eyes with the face of a child,

Now crying bitterly, shouting loudly,

I want to study, please, dad, please allow me,

The sight broke my heart fled soon,

Is it a crime to marry, get children,

This is an age so different than us,

No selection, donations, school free less,

With less family income, the fee was free,

I read till high school with a scholarship,

Twelve rupees per month in the sixties!

Large amount compared to the present time,

All my books, pen, pencil, geometry box,

Met from scholarship money, tuition,

Coaching class for matriculation for division,

It was free too optional for better results,

Could not remember children missed years,

Co-education of existing girls was encouraged,

Saw girl students are going back rejected,

Sad that day, I felt sorry this time,

Education has gone costly disbelieves,

Lost years for children, parents clueless,

Impossible to meet the cost of private schools,

Money sharks extract, proxy many,

Black money can only support reality,

The time, the current generation crucified,

Education now the business kids netted,

Sits on the sofa, watches television shows,

Highlighting the school, labs, libraries,

Hostels if a five-star hotels, class modern,

The gadgets, rows of computers, play fields,

Come here and join us, the school to know,

College, technical institutes, medical,

All are open later at a hundred million,

Per degree purchase contest a game show,

No more in tears, angry with time,

Appeal the system how money is siphoned off,

Is this way to build my country,

Promotes, rich, black money, tax cheats?

Got information institutions exist,

Poor students, free education, free boarding,

Inviting them embracing wholehearted,

No government help inland overseas donations,

Upliftment, children, education is free and fair,

Thank these unseen heroes, Lord cares.   

 

Pen: Bijayananda Mishra

Title of Poem: Upliftment

Themes: Child Education

Date: 3rd January 2023, Cuttack

@ Copywrite