A Spectacle Poem by Sachidananda Panda

How long would you burn the effigies bare?
The symbolism is left to the blind eye.
Crackers seldom destroy the crime.
Year after year, we repeat the same vile.
Ram incarnates not, Ravanas on rampage,
Heads of abuse, no longer limited to ten
Many heads, visages frightening.

Let's glorify the viciousness,
The curated smiles of a politician
When apathy nutures the silent suffering
And trust is poisoned by malice
Let's pull the walls on eyes and speak
It's anothor's problem.

Avillan of bambo and paper we cheer.
It's fall a victory for the dumb and blind.
The fire consumes the effigy, leaving the real one
The embers cool by dawn, air sweeps the ashes at ease,
But the many-headed monsters age under masks
To walk amongst us and mock
It was indeed a spectacular fire.

©Sachi-2nd Oct.2025
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