Hunter Gatherers

By Geetanjali Jain

They say some thousand years ago

When there was much to learn and know

We hunted, gathered all the while

Humans then were but hostile.

They say we came a long way

From living just to pile and prey

Our lives are now much more profound

Than back when cavemen were around.

I, for one, don’t see much change

In the way our lives arrange

Except that now our stocks exceed

All what we would ever need.

We hunt and gather recklessly

Then gather still more fecklessly.

Some gather wealth, some gather name

Some gather both to gather fame.

Then come the ones who gather kin

For they can’t bear the filth within.

Some think they are above them all

They gather facts to be know-alls

And then repeat in public gaze

Thus, in turn, they gather praise.

All our lives, we hunt a prey

That seems only steps away.

This silly game goes on and on

Till one fine day, one passes on.

I ask the older, wiser lots

Who could perhaps connect the dots

With lesser time to stack and store

Lesser still to hunt for more-

Did you finally catch the prey

Or fall prey to the very prey?

By Geetanjali Jain