DON'T BITE THE BAIT



DON'T BITE THE BAIT  

Every five years they manifest with fake tears
A concern that's loaded with barter
Every five years they reap a harvest of fears
Pretending to be your martyrs
Every five years they put on a mask
Behind which is maybe just hate
O man you've slumbered enough
Wake up and don't bite the bait!

Does your wisdom not laugh and mock you
As you turn a blind eye to reason
Does your finger not rise in angered protest
When they appear for just that one season
Does your heart not ask,"Is he right for the task?"
"Will this one finally change our fate?"
O man you've blundered enough
Swim away and don't bite the bait!

Think of the ones who fought for our freedom
The ones who gallantly paved the way
Think of the ones who will bear your blood
The ones you cannot, at any cost, betray
Think of what's right and good for this land
Which bears the mantle of being great
O man you've tumbled enough
Stand up and don't bite the bait!

Discard the treats and empty handouts
That bargain away your precious pride
Discard the cloak of reductive identities
That blatantly cleave and divide
Discard the fear of the "other," O brother
Let's fuse and not segregate
O man you've mumbled enough, come on
Speak up and don't bite the bait!

That humble blue ink, can you sit up and think
Why the last time your finger was bare
Our dye of democracy, eroded by hypocrisy
By those who duck but pretend to care
The lettered illiterate, all bark and no bite
Move beyond your empty debates
O man you've grumbled enough
Now line up, it's never too late!

Hear through the din of blaring loudspeakers
Sift the wheat from the worthless flaky chaff
Hear through the rancour that threatens to silence
The truth, the voice, that rests in your heart
Hear through the clamour, the babble, the bedlam
A whisper to which you can relate
O man you've fumbled enough
Rise up and don't bite the bait! 

                               
                                                   - Priti Singh 

                     

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