On the families torn asunder by soaring rents, fueled by the insatiable greed of their landlords.

I cry of injustice by some,
Among us:
Their concern is merely to sum
Their riches.

Of the buildings are they lords:
Their belly with greed bloats.

Hiking the charges,
For no reason.
Their excuse, not far,
From illusion.

And thereby,
Even the able rich,
Become hollow,
And the poor:
Their pains swallow.

Failed by the rental chart,
Families in pain, torn apart.

Landlords’ greed blooms:
Lovers’ hearts bleed.

The little ones cry,
To see their father.
But these heartless,
Not once bother.

So dear has become,
A hut to live with family.
Is it the same earth,
He gave man freely?

Hey father of Zahra Batool!

To serve one’s parents,
Is a noble deed:
You refused a son from battlefield,
To serve his mother at home.

Did you not,
To your companions say:
‘Those who break ties,
Shall not in paradise stay.’

Ar-Rahman proclaimed to ar-rahm:
‘Whosoever honors,
Shall win My esteem.’

What then of these greedy men,
Who detach man from his kin?

Those who hold,
The reins of power,
See glory in,
The buildings like-tower.

They are blind,
To this pitiful state:
This world is for them,
Just another estate!

These shepherds, once they were,
Compete to sow brick-trees higher.
Leaving the land,
Into the seas build their house.

They fail to learn,
Lessons from disasters,
And on the lives of poor,
Their greed pesters.

Are they aspiring,
To be like of Haman,
To build towers lofty,
To reach Ar-Rahman?

May these Qaruns be saved:
Be kind to those who reside.

Nov 22, 2005. Edit 2024