THE STRUGGLER

A struggler by birth,
She born to a family,
That had a hand to mouth earning,
With counted loaf of bread,
And measured cups of milk,
Not to think about fish or meat,
Forget about festivity and celebrations,
Or about a save for the rainy days.(1)
In her childhood days,
She stayed cool and assured,
To get better next time, next month,next year,
That was never to come,
But made her learned to manage,to compromise,
With food, cloths, books, shoes everything,
And was forcefully satisfied.(2)
Everyday  sabre rattling between her parents,
Due to poverty, scarcity and his addiction to alcohol,
Nurtured a frightened childhood,
Matured her early for the responsibilities,
Of the younger ones,their hunger,their tears.(3)
As a dreamer by birth,
She was hopeful and expectant,
Of changing the world around her periphery,
Her household, younger brothers and sisters,
With her education, determination and dedication.(4)
With a mission in her mind,
She joined an affordable government school,
Not so reputed but close to her house,
And obtained a certificate of distinction,
Gold medals for extraordinary performances.(5)
Her dreams shattered,
By the corruption,nepotism,favouritism rampant in the society,
Each time she faced an interview for a government job.
Her hopes tattered,
As she did not have extra qualification as such,
A minister's letter or a phone call from a high official,
And lacked vitamin 'M' ,
To support her certificates and gold medals.(6)
When she was over-aged for the government jobs,
She joined a private hospital,
To work as a nurse and assured herself,
"Service to mankind is a service to God,
I am serving God, it is great in itself".(7)
For love, romance and marriage,
She had neither time nor mind to spare,
They remained fantasies for her,
Her responsibilities as the eldest,
Towards  younger ones after the early departure of her parents,
Their bread, butter,milk,oil, rice flour,
Books,copies, school fees, medicine,
Never allowed her instincts, personal desires,
To top her priority list.(8)
May you count her to be,
An unfortunate loser,
But as per me she never lost,
Her hopes, confidence or patience,
Or battered her character,dignity or self respect,
To have a better life for herself only,
And willingly remained answerable,
But never she questioned anyone.
Definitely she is a struggler,
Undoubtedly a winner as well.(9)