me and my old woman - Neerav Patel

1.
Since fifty-sixty years, they shout and screech
But there is no stuff in their work
It’s hardly five years and lo they come
Asking for more votes!

They say that this time
Valo Nameri is in the fray.
All say that he is a good man.
They say that this kind man
Works for the poor since the days of Babasaheb.
But among the demons
How does he compare?
Tell now, old woman,
What shall we do this time?

You are innocent by birth, old man —
You toil and toil.
Have you heard that they give ten rupees per head,
And a pack of ganthiya snack in addition?
A car would pick you up and drop you back,
Enjoy a bit of kingly life in the old age —
Drink a pouch of country liqueur if you like,
God bless Valo Nameri,
But vote for Manubhai this time.
Go, and bargain,
Tell that we have two,
me and my old man.

2.
Brother, we have heard that they give ten rupees per head.
If you wish to give twelve
We have two,
me and my old woman.
It’s not much
It’s the wages of a day for two of us.
We will have some rest from toil.
see, we are getting late for our daily drudgery ,
Mago Mehtar gives five rupees for a bagful of bones
that we collect daily...
we are happy getting our daily bread at the end of the day.

O brother, we vote you an entire kingdom,
we are happy with our wanderings.
Tell me, the sun rises
And the old woman is now waiting for long.
It’s a sin we know
But we have to keep our word.
That’s why
The vote will surely go to your Manubhai.
Tell me, will you give twelve per head?
We have two,
me and my old woman.

---

Neerav Patel (born 1950) India
Translation: Dr.G.K.Vankar
Source: Lyrik—Line

• Valo Nameri - the only reference I can find is to a 1973 Gujarati film of this name, but I donl;t think this is what is being referred to here
• Babasaheb - Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer, who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits)
• ganthiya - deep fried Indian snacks made from chickpea flour
• Manubhai - Manubhai Shah (1915–2000) an Indian politician
• Mago Mehtar - I could not find any reference to this; possibly another Indian politician?