’tis A Sad, Mad World!

A famished, ill-clad beggar stands Amidst some barking dogs! All searching through the garbage-dump For left-over food, fast; Each taking turns at emptying, The things inedible; Their hunger-pangs can drive them mad; Will Dame Luck smile on them? His eyes keep straining just for food, On plantain-leaves by luck; The scorching sun can’t bother him, Nor can the stench within; His pangs of hunger goads him on To lick the residue; His face keeps smiling when he sees, A morsel of cooked grain! The dogs are happy biting bones, Though meat, they never meet; He’s back to work upon the pile And sorts the rocks from leaves; There’s silence excepting the noise Of scrambling for food found; The garbage-dump’s a blessed spot, Where man and beast share food!