Summer is upon the city again, and this time it’s far worse <br />The people of the city consider it as God’s vile curse <br />Of course, the excessive, oppressive heat is no sudden thing <br />Something called “global warming” has added to this suffering <br /> <br />The sun beats down on its victims, and keeps spitting venom <br />On the hapless inhabitants of its seasonally sizzling kingdom <br />People pray to the Almighty for a much-needed April miracle <br />But all that they receive from Him is a sweltering debacle <br /> <br />The citizens crave for water and drinks, to remove their weakness <br />The water-tankers and juice sellers do rip-roaring business <br />Even the swimming pools and clubs laugh all the way to the bank <br />Refreshed and rejuvenated patrons do not find anyone else to thank <br /> <br />No child plays on the roads now, they all stay indoors <br />And wait desperately for summer to change its course <br />But alas! The mercury touches 42 degrees on the Celsius scale <br />And the children have no other option, except to hysterically wail <br /> <br />The tempers of the inhabitants go several notches higher <br />When they learn that rats nibbled at the main electricity wire <br />Everyday, for a few hours, their cool and patience is tested <br />And the doubts regarding the civic body’s negligence are rested <br /> <br />The rich and the middle-class bask in the cool comforts <br />Of the air-conditioners and fans in their personal forts <br />But the poor, disadvantaged beggars and labourers are not so lucky <br />Deaths due to heat and sunstroke are reported with alarming regularity <br /> <br />Rich or poor, all have the same prayer on their lips now <br />They want July to arrive fast, and the summer to take a bow <br />But time will take its own course, and till then everyone <br />Will have to face the wrath of the sweltering sun<br /><br />RONY PATRA<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-urban-summer/
