04 June 2025

Social Mobility

Before returning to
His duty in the army,
Dad bought me a 
Chair when I was five.

Shortly, when the 
Village-landlord visited
Our dilapidated house.
Which reeked of 
Cattle dung and urine-

He couldn't stand 
The sight of a
Bright blue chair.

How could a mere
Labourer's house 
Have a chair?

And when there's a
Chair, how could he
Sit on the floor with
All that ego up his ass?

He commanded my
Grandpa to serve his
Ego with a kid's chair.

My poor chair with
Small arms and legs.
Accommodating his
Big-big-butts without 
Breaking-

Trying to hold entire 
Family's respect-
Like it was my dad's 
Part-persona fighting 
The divide here.

My chair did a good 
Job in straightening 
Our spines for next 
Two decades-
Before it was passed 
On to my niece.

Who now climbs on it
To reach the books
We never had.