me and my old woman

the white men left

and that Old man died

and they shouted : Swaraj has come.

for these last fifty-sixty years,

they have been  shouting and screaming

with the punctuality of the frogs in rainy season.

alas,  there is no outcome of their exercise !

it’s hardly five years and lo, they arrive
asking for vote,And more votes,

again and again!

they say Valo Nameri  is in the fray this time.
all say that he is a good man.
they say that this kind man
works for us poor untouchables since days of Babasaheb.
but among these demons
what chance this poor angel can stand?
tell now, old woman,
what shall we do this time?

you are innocent by birth, old man --
you sweat and toil,

all day and all life.
have you heard that they give ten rupees per head?
and a pack of ganthiya snack in addition.
a motorcar would pick you up

and drop you back at our hut’s door ,
enjoy life a bit in this old age, poor little thing -

drink a pouch of desi liquor if you like,
god bless Valo Nameri
but let us vote for  Manubhai, this time.
go, and bargain hard,
tell that we have two,
me and my old woman.

o masters, 

we have heard that they give ten rupees per head.
if you wish to give twelve
we have two,
me and my old woman.
it’s not much
it’s wages of a day for us two.
we will have some rest from drudgery this Big day.
otherwise, you see

we set out for collecting stray bones at the Kasaiwad. 
Mago Mehtar will offer five rupees a bagful.
we are happy to get our loaf and daal 

at the end of the day.

o  masters,  all the kingdom is yours
and let there be this wandering for us.
tell me, the sun rises rapidly
and the old woman has been waiting for long,

with gunny bags on her shoulders.
it’s a sin, we know,
but we have to keep our word.

and we poor honestly keep our word.
the vote will surely go to your Manubhai, this time.
tell me, will you give twelve per head?
we have precious two,
me and my old woman.