Our forefathers to us, pearls of wisdom gave,
for any problems arising to stave.

Honesty the best policy, they said,
will stand you, dear boy, in good stead.

They gave their lives in eternal struggle,
without as much as a mumble.

In truth they believed, blindly,
and followed this policy, well and truly.

Expecting this trend to follow,
they passed on this wisdom for others to follow.

As years passed by,
flying past, fast and away.

This wisdom has undergone a drastic change.
People, now are willing to fudge and manage.

Our leaders buy votes,
distributing green notes.

They lie to hold on to power,
without a single shudder.

Past masters at the game,
they go about it without shame.

It all starts at the top,
goes down right below, without stop.

At all levels of life it permeates,
gnawing at our core, it now dictates.

The honest are left behind in every race,
unable to keep pace.

Not knowing which palm to grease,
life does them really tease.

The thought to their minds then come,
what has the world to come.

Is there now no place for the honest,
in the current worldly wise concept.

Are they doing it right,
by sticking to ideas only right.

Lets hope they stick to their principle,
and not all of them crumble.

Or we will be left with only the corrupt,
of all positive values bereft.

A sad day that would deem,
a blow to our ancestors dream.

Lets hope sense prevails,
and man changes his trail.

Realisation coming from within,
that the goal is not the only reason.

The means are equally important,
for humans harmonious existence.

After all he has to first live with himself,
and only then with external selves.

~Raj S~