by Mina Gajbhiye
What will you do for those
whose hunger is an ache?
Shed two tears?
Give a fourth of a slice of bread?
What will you do for those
who don't quite live
and don't quite die?
Write a beautiful poem of life?
Or a beautiful poem on death?
Whatever you do-
it will be useless.
Translated by Jayant Karve and Eleanor Zelliot. Source: Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion. Mina Gajbhiye is a Dalit poet writing in the Marathi language.