Can we ever smile

I wanted to make my mother smile,

So thought of adding a feather to her file.

I searched the market pillar to post,

But could not meet their cost.

Idea blinked of presenting a cake,

Which also was possible by a piggy break.

On way to the bakery, I saw a fight,

A cop also arrived at the sight.

Oh, my God! He used his rod,

To add more, he charged them both.

I ignored and bought the cake,

Presented it with a smiling face.

Traumatized I was, for the cake was stale

My smiling face turned pale.

How can a mother smile in this nation,

With an increase in violence, corruption, and inflation?