Midweek Review
A Public Servant’s Pain
By Lynn Ockersz
Words fail Chief Clerk Suraweera,
Now in his thirtieth year with the state,
As he learns with a lump in his throat,
That his painstakingly-built funds,
Are hitting a very dangerous low,
For, the bank’s ATM made no mistake,
About a lean balance against his name,
And his bone-thin frame sags further,
When in his mind’s eye he sees,
With a searing pain within,
The sorrow writ across his wife’s face,
And tears welling in his daughter’s eyes,
On learning that all their daily needs,
Could no longer be easily met,
Nor could the fridge be well stocked,
Since goods are priced beyond their reach,
And he’s had to dig deep into his savings,
To keep his slipping middle class ranking,
But the unkindest cut of all is that,
Next month’s salary is in the balance,
Since the state is saddled with empty coffers,
And cannot fend for its ‘poor country’ people.