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Satyendra Srivastava

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Anthem

He wasn’t depressed at all
Looked at the moving train
Threw away the crumpled paper
After opening his fist and measuring the palm
Took a deep sigh
And walked away
Turned back and watched her going
Took out the handkerchief from the pocket
Wiped the tears and hopped into the waiting bus

There isn’t much to this story
Only a beginning and an end
The beginning was that they had
Met at a Social Security office
Collected their benefits and walked side by side
Across the common
Then at the bus stop the question popped out
My place or yours
It was hers
They had a good time
And now they parted as strangers
Without any hope
And no regrets

William Crossland while watching the times go by
Has seen it all before
People telling each other goodbye
Kissing again and again
Then meeting once more under the same old clock
Next to the ticket window

And this year has been good
Not too many delays
No strikes
No accidents
And thieves were caught and sentenced
No store went bankrupt

There is a lot to be thankful for
So said the vicar again today
To the passing commuters

And people are getting ready for the Christmas crackers
In this land of ours
There is a need to rewrite the anthem
A hymn for the homeless
Under a flag of fire

There is a future for all of us
What are we waiting for

 

Page(s) 100-101

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