Theft

By Ayyappa Paniker

Just because I have stolen a few things
why should you call me a thief?

But you have stolen our clothes!
If i have stolen your clothes, your clothes,
it was only to protect your sense of shame,
it was only to protect your sense of shame.

You have stolen our chicken too!

If I have stolen “our chicken,” as you say,
it was only to fry it and eat it,
it was only to fry it and eat it.

‘[hen what about our cow you stole?
What about our cow you stole?

The cow, you mean?
Well, if I have stolen your cow, your cow,
it was, it was for me to drink its milk.

My doctor, please note, hasn’t said no
to fried chicken or cow’s milk.

Whenever one steals something good, something good,
you people raise a clamour for nothing
and dub him a thief, a thief!

It is the fault of your laws,
it is the fault of your laws.
Change you then your laws, I say,
lest your laws should change you!

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