Friday, November 6, 2026

THE GARBAGE GATHERERS

 




                      

 



                      

                     

                       


1       Flouting all rules, flats are built touching the sky

Not leaving an inch of space in between;

A concrete jungle grew without a patch of green

Like tower of Babel with so many floors high;

A huge mass of unmanageable garbage grows

Who manages this bulky waste, everyone knows.

 

2       Driven by poverty they accept their lot

To do this dirty work which none prefers to do

A daring, noble service, in every sense true;

Collecting wastage and sorting them from every flat;

People consume and throw away in reckless ways

If garbage is not cleaned, can they happily stay?

 

3       Even for a moment we can’t bear to stand

As stinking garbage trucks pass by;

We pause our breath and even to sigh

They sift dark garbage with their hands;

Sometimes, even without gloves and how hard

Is it to do this menial work, Oh God! 

 

4       Right from early morning till eve

They have to be on the move collecting waste

Spending their time in trucks in horrible state;

Ever exposed to stench; one can’t conceive

How they bear and breathe such unhygienic air

With no safety measures, meseems unfair?

 

5       Their only world- huge mounds of garbage

Surrounded by bundles of dank refuse;

To get used to such state, one should be a recluse;

Transcending sense-bound mortal stage;

No sense of abhorrence in them we find

No trace of aversion or irritable mind.

 

6       Working for hours amidst foul-smelling mess

Who is there to help them if they fall ill?

Who is there to pay their hospital bill?

To relieve them from economic strain and stress

Free medical care and free food they should get;

Collectors of garbage to their fate should not be left. 

 

7       They should be paid promptly their meagre wage

So many times, they helplessly complain

Of their pending dues; How can they maintain

Their families?  Belittle not their image

 or spurn; realize their vital role and take proper care

 Of their health with safety measures and their welfare.

 

8       Though humble it may seem, they serve a lot

To make us live in comfortable ways;

Their vital role indeed none can replace

With true patience and tolerance, they act;

But who can purge our greed and mental garbage?

Who can flush out our vices and verbal wastage?

                   *********************

  6th November 2026                   Somaseshu Gutala

Note :  In India nearly 1,70,000 tonnes of garbage material is generated every day. In cities nearly 5000 to 7000 tonnes of household and municipal waste is produced.  To check this citizens should try to reduce, re-use and recycle wastage and follow rules in segregation of waste and should reduce use of things made of plastic and harmful non-biodegradable material.

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