In the Temple

Aribam Surjeet Sharma
Standing I was in front of a temple
Waiting for the priest to perform the Arati.
A murmur of dissonant voices came

From some ladies in impeccable white attire,
Carrying expansive elegant plates
Having choicest fruits and delicacies

To be offered to the gods in the temple.
Competing with others, they were eager
For the Pujari to first collect their plates.

Holding aloft their plates flauntingly
And with arrogance writ large in their faces,
They were trying to override the pleadings

By the other humble women for the Pujari
To collect their humble plates with humble fruits.
And to the conceited delight of the ladies,

The elegant plates with fine ample contents
Seemed to be far more magnetic as compared
To the humble plates having meagre contents,

For, the Pujari gave priority to the former.
Materialism in full flagrant display
Smothering spiritualism in a temple.