salaam mumbai

salaams to all mumbaikars
above faith, caste, creed
who donated blood
till the banks overflowed

salaams to grand mothers
and young and old
who handed water and food
to those in distress

salaams to sainiks also
despite loathsome disagreements
for not being modi-clones

salaam to the pakistani desicritic*
who used his earthquake experience
and in hours set up a wiki help page
for depicting camaraderie and empathy
and for shattering stereotypes

salaam mumbai, salaam
for showing grit and resolve
for carrying on business as usual
refusing to give in to the killers
for coming of age
for showing restraint and
for not being gujarat
shabaash mumbai, shabaash
tujh ko m'ra pyar bhara salaam

*iFaqeer