The benefits of being a poet

 

Among the fraternity of writers, the poets stand the least chance of pushing their economic prospects with the help of their art. But recently the tag of being a ‘mere poet’ helped me economically.

There are situations where being perceived to be poor helps you save the costs in a project.

Poverty and poetry are synonymous. Sometimes this combination gives pleasure instead of the usual pain.

I went to avail the services of a senior advocate in the high court for my 21-year-old court case about my PCS appointment. He is a very successful lawyer. His house looks like a five-star hotel. I had a discussion with his junior.

When the issue of fees arrived, he went into his boss’ cabin. The groundwork had been done quite diligently by the time I entered the esteemed lawyer’s cabin.

I betook myself with loads of poetic translucence, which is actually poverty showcased for one’s advantage.

‘My staff has informed me that you are just a poet. Merely writing poem-shoems. So you get this huge discount. But please don’t tell anyone about it. We charge standard fees and if you tell others about the discount we are giving you, even they will come seeking the same by pretending to be poor like you. About you we are sure that you being a mere poet must be very hard on money,’ the renowned lawyer appeared full of compassion, sociable and amiable towards a failed poet.

Someone had warned me that he is a headstrong man. But thanks to my status of being a mere poet, I got almost 50 percent discount on his hefty fees. But ironically even after the hefty discount it was a big assault on my smallish pockets.

However, as you all know these are interesting times. We have started to pay for clean water, pure air and clean earth. So expecting justice without paying ample sum of money is mere wishful thinking. Without money a plan is simply a worthless exercise in the art of illusions.