This Is Also Mumbai

This also is Mumbai,
Where family lives on streets,
Where child with soft body
Sleep on a very hardened bed.
Oblivious of dirt and
Creeping insects beneath,
Unfeeling of crawling worms
That might walk over his legs

A child lays cuddled
In a strip of a cloth wrap
Stretched between two poles
Tied loosely at its ends
A young girl with dreams of future In school dress,
she proudly stands Memorizing her riddles
Crumbled and tattered in her bag.


A place of worship at every street Guards people's faith, big and small Blessing them with courage to liveIn bitter life of frost Bestows them His special grace Helps live in this terror zone Courageous in a crowded city Fearlessly, they run and board


Bridging lives of common man
With those of fortunate ones
All live together harmoniously
Under a common, cold sky
Juggling along their lives
In midst of four scary P’s
Poverty, population, pollution, Penury
Of this Mumbai city of dreams