Oft have I wondered at festival times
Why crackers fascinate us Indians so
What’s in us that generates
This compulsive obsessive urge to explode?

The cracker bursts with a deafening sound
Ear drums shudder, shiver and quiver
The cracker shoots splinters, shreds and smoke
Gasping lungs recoil, living beings choke.

Are they a potent loud ad for hell?
For human ears a splitting, blasting bombshell?
A flying arrow in the dark, a stab on the night air
An ear-splitting bang to test the stone-deaf?

It’s a deafening call to scare and scatter
Shattering the nerves of man and beast
Dogs shiver, rabbits dart off, elephants panic
Perching birds flutter to escape the airy lash.

Diwali’s a harrowing time for light-sleeping folk
For a relentless noise barrage assaults their ears
A spluttering burst shatters the night calm
Sparks fly and gleam mocking the sky.

How I wish more lights and lamps lit up
The festival night like soft twinkling stars
From scintillating airy displays, pearly sparks
Parachute gently on the festive earth.

Noise encroaches, shocks, violates your sanctuary
With bangs and bursts of intense decibels
Kindly light beckons mellow, gives a warm glow
With courtesy and grace invites you gently…