A Life Taken For Granted

By Moiz Poonawala

Ask a starving man , the true worth of bread

A pauper yearns , a piece of cloth bare-thread

A beggar salvages and saves alms everyday

The mute wish the value of speech they could portray

The blind would trade a thousand nights,  

To once see all of nature's wondrous sights.

The homeless weep and pray for a broken leaking hut ,

Wealthy men in mansions , lose peace and sleep to glut !

A blind man stumbles , in a dark perennial night ,

A crippled youth despairs, that his ailing limbs may show some might!

A sailor's feet yearn for the touch and smell of earth,

The childless pray for a miraculous birth

An innocent prisoner craves ,

a breath of air free and fair,

Somewhere an orphan whimpers and weeps ,

yearning his parents tender loving care !

The gentle dawn wakes us with soft morning light ,

we stir awake , eyes full of dreams so bright

We wake up healthy, nimble and full of might

Yet simple blessings fade from our ungrateful sight !

A roof we have above our heads

A shelter complete with warm cozy beds

A table set , blessed with our daily bread

A friendship that weathered over the long hard years ,

Quiet moments of peace , void of stress or fears .

Laughter shared with loved ones near and dear

Simple joys that gave back colossal cheer !

A strangers smile , a quiet helping hand

fleeting moments escape our hands like flowing sand

Yet , the most trivial things we crave, mourn and miss

Often overlooking life's bounties ,so full of bliss

The truth is , those who have never had ,

Show life's not always rosy,

It can be harsh, cruel and sad !

By Moiz Poonawala