Look right.

If you follow keep to the right

Look left.

Look! Look around before crossing the zebra.

Don't worry for taking a few seconds extra.

Do you think the laws of crossing at the zebra?

Are full of abracadabra?

Are they made at the zodiac sign of Libra?

For calming the maniac road raging over the zebra?

Quick! Quick! Run and run!

Or you may likely to be overrun.

Red Crescent or Red Cross would be of little help.

You know well, self-help is the best help.

Do not dance on the zebra crossing

Do not indulge there in jaywalking.

Do not insist on your right of way.

Outriders of the VIPs would hoot you away.

Do not believe an autocrat, red or elected,

Benevolent, benign or self made,

Who tells you to do all your acts breezily

And tells you to speak the truth at all times freely.

The autocrat or and the killer truck are no kin

But in their ruthlessness they are so akin.

Do not believe them and do not on them reckon

Do not cross the zebra even if they do you beckon.

If you are killed on the zebra, they will ridicule

And call you as the poor boor, the peasant fool.

Which is worse, to be smitten by a cobra

Or to be killed by being overrun on the zebra?

If you follow keep to the left

Look right.

If you follow keep to the right

Look left.

Look! Look around before crossing the zebra

Don't worry for taking a few seconds extra.

Muhammad Habibur Rahman is former Chief Justice and head of caretaker government