Happy New Year: A poem

Another year gone by

another year come to pass

A virus that doesn’t seem to die

has besieged the world. Alas!

Few nations have the power to buy

antivirals. But many more haven’t a chance.

Wishes and hopes we exchange in abundance

But a few home-truths should signal our decadence

That as a few of us wallow in opulence

equality, fraternity and liberty have stepped back in reticence

Where leaders have an obsession with borders

and humaneness ranks low in the orders.

Millions are being spent on fireworks

even as billions starve, it irks.

War and strife should be our regret

for the suffering and chaos they beget.

A new year must herald the belief

that our own smugness is a deceit

when so much of the world is wanting

while material pursuits of us are haunting

Good is desperate for a chance to fight evil

It needs every politician’s propriety and humanity’s will.