A Third World Crow and a First World Wren

S. P. Udayakumar Minneapolis--St. Paul; July 16, 2000 A Third World Crow and a First World Wren Set out to cook "Development" kitchdi for dinner. Wren had capital, know-how and do-how And took over the leadership unilaterally anyhow. The Crow brought spices and sufficient rice, And forced into free labor without any price. When kitchdi was ready, the crow claimed his share. Said the Wren: "No, you dirty Third World fellow, Go wash your incapacity and unsuitability Then you can sit down to share the kitchdi." The Crow went to a river and begged: "You are Ms. River, I am Mr. Crow. Give me lots of water so I may wash my prow, Earn my share and eat my kitchdi, And live like the Western White Wren." But the River said: "I will give you water if you raise my level! Break any mountain and bring a lot of stones, Put them all around me so I will have more, And you can clean yourself so very well." The Crow went to a mountain and prayed: "You are Mr. Mountain, I am Mr. Crow. Give me lots of stones So I can take 'em to the River And build a huge dam. The river will give me water, I will wash my prow, Eat my "development" kitchdi And live like the Western White Wren." Matter-of-factly the Mountain said: "You can have all the stones, But you need some machines now! Get the heavy-duty equipment That can split my head into compartments!" So the crow went to an American Corporation and pleaded: "You are Mr. Corporation,

I am Mr. Crow. Give me heavy-duty machinery So I can break the mountain, Take the stones to the river, Build a large dam, Use all the water, Wash my prow, Eat my kitchdi, And live like the Western White Wren." The shrewd Corporation stood up straight, Shook his head and smoked a cigar. Puffed and huffed the "new economy" logic, Beckoned the Crow who was hopelessly bemused, And brayed: "Bring a lot of Money! Money! Money!" The persistent Crow flew to the World Bank and cried: "You are Mr. World Bank, I am Mr. Crow. Give me lots of money, For the 'Merchant of Venice.' He gives me machines To break the mountain, Build a huge dam And procure all the water To wash my prow. I'd finally eat my kitchdi And live like the Western White Wren." The World Bank flew in development experts, G-8 tops, OECD reps, NATO brass, White House boss, financiers, speculators And all the rest of the power brokers; Worked out a wonderful loan package With structural adjustments and stabilization plans. The loan pros and the lone crow signed the deal. Giving up his share of kitchdi for debt servicing, The Third World Crow flew into the horizon Onto his mega-development saga.