The Greater Good

Men in suits, holding positions,

Who see themselves larger than they are,

Or rather, others as smaller than they are,

Taking decisions of state, looking at the larger picture,

Those powers, the pay - it is indeed for this,

For them to think beyond themselves,

To forget family and individuals,

And to see the country as one single body,

And while we elect them to do us good,

They are forced to think of a country - a name to place their love in,

A name through which benefit does reach us,

But in rare cases, something that matters more than our lives,

These men are to overlook smaller things, yes,

But are they to sacrifice the small for the big?

To overlook morals and values and the 'right',

While their heartless decisions affect man, woman and child,

Oh, in what way are these men better than terrorists?

Ready to indulge in heinous crimes,

Well, they have hearts, unlike those men who have a choice,

Hearts which they are trained to lose,

Perhaps they are indeed unlike their fellow people,

Both greater and lesser but never equals,

But then again, is it not due to the brains of such men,

That we all get to live in peace?

The greater good, that's what they call it,

And it's seen at all levels,

Not merely country or a governing body,

Do you see the father toiling away,

Or the mother losing her sleep?

Man's goal is happiness, they all say,

But is it his own, or that of another?

Conceived while watching Person of Interest, on 31st May, 2016, and written at 4:11pm