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Listen to Me

Those of you, the privileged few
sitting on cosy chairs
on the red carpet floors
in the air-conditioned rooms
thumping hard on wood
when your leader speaks
and shouting smart
when the opposition attempts,
listen to me.
I'll teach you the basic rules of protest-
for what to protest
and
how to protest.
Stop this farce!

I peep into the deserted streets
through the window frame
that holds a broken glass.
I lie low in my dimly lit cold room.
Listen to me, the laws are safe
in the pages of your book
but beyond these boundaries
we live shattered lives.

Uniformed men march in unison.
Every corner spots a military vehicle.
I hear their siren,the rest turns mute.
They stop us, frisk us and question us.
Alas!we cannot carry x-rays of our souls.

You laugh over bread crust and wine when
we wry throughout the day
and when we cry terribly loud
you comment fast in boxed spaces
to receive more replies, retweets, and likes.
We are mere puppets that exchange hands
Will we ever rise in this journey,
I know not.

Listen to me, we are also citizens
of your country
No, our country.
A thin line of fate separates us
far from you.
All I have to offer you
from this distant land
is what I can call my own-
this biting reality.
Listen to me, would you dare
to exchange our lives
even for a day.

Comments

  1. aravindAugust 21, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Well, Anna Hazare in Palestine! that was my first reaction, but having understood its based on Irom Sharmila's life, I feel quite ashamed that I managed to forget her. thanks for reminding:)..

    its gloomy yet very powerful. I must say, the political You is much more powerful than the philosophical 1 before.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Farah ZachariahAugust 22, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    :) hey...thank u...people in those war torn areas as well as places hit by internal strife lead a life f gloom..it can be ny part f d world...Palestine/Lahore/Jammu/North East...we need to give d civilians an ear....

    ReplyDelete
  3. NeethaAugust 22, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    ah...powerful verses...!!!
    i cud feel the rage seething withn d poem...

    the line "Alas!we cannot carry x-rays of our souls."is brilliant yaar...:) lovd it..
    that's wr the poet in u steals the show..
    indeed...a very powerful poem...hats off dear...:))

    ReplyDelete
  4. Farah ZachariahAugust 23, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    hey Neetha...thanx a lot...dts ma fav line too...:)))

    ReplyDelete

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