We, the oldies, the senior citizens,
who have traveled so far in their lives,
trying to retrospect and critically examine,
do some self-analysis in this pandemic time!

Oh, the young ones,
our Gen had a duty to fulfill,
to raise you all as great human beings –
better than our Gen in all respects,
responsible, creative, calm, and diligent!

To make you real ‘humans’,
oh, young ones,
what we could give you,
what we couldn’t,
what treasures have we plundered
and snatched from you, in our ignorance,
that’s what we analyze in these twilight days.

We couldn’t give you
blue sky, fresh air, cool shade
and whatever is serene and pure;
gave you poisonous fumes from vehicles,
foul air, polluted environment
and drinking water in bottles!

Snatched your real childhood,
your playground, roof for flying kites,
rainwater and paper boats;
instead, gifted you carelessly, a mobile,
TV, video games, PlayStation and remote!

You didn’t get yummy food
from mother‟s loving hands,
you got Maggie and junk food,
all packaged ones,
a visit to the mall, cineplex
and restaurants on the weekends,
otherwise, street foods,
Swiggy and Zomato as saviours.

We made business with your education,
politics with language,
slavery in the name of jobs –
work twenty-four into seven;
destroyed all the ethics
in the new definition of development,
where all relationships became fragile,
easy, temporary, and volatile!

All the diseases of our silvered days,
diabetes, BP, heart ailment, depression, pain…
we handed you down with ease
without any hesitation or remorse,
and you all have taken those
in your stride at an age so very young!

All these we have done out of our selfishness,
to fulfill our never-ending desires and wants,
for more, more, and some more;
with our continuous needs and dissatisfaction,
we impregnated you too
with that attitude toxic and poisonous!

Oh, my fearless warriors of Gen Next,
let me make this confession to you in a whisper,
we, the sr. citizens from the older generation,
couldn’t fulfill our duty despite our strength,
so we are leaving behind a society
sick and polluted, for you to change!

You only have to analyze and
say how ‘humans’ you all are;
change this world with all your might,
make it a beautiful one;
and finally our request to you all
forgive us, if you can, for our failures!!

5th August, 2020