thoughts penned during war (Afghanistan)

Thursday, April 14, 2005 | 1 comments

Sumanya Anand Velamur

Wearing my opinion on my sleeve
— A little label 4" long , 3" wide —
In a little place in the world
Where I'll neither be seen nor heard

The place has claims to injustice too
I did not protest — with any label blue
Against the riots so near.
So why now and why here?

Is it because it is someone else?
A war somewhere else?
Easier to blame than to be blamed?
Stand up for people you don't know — unashamed?

In the bus I elicit smiles from a few people
With my opinion on the label
Perhaps they think, “what a wannabe”
Perhaps they think, “In time she will see.”

For a time I muse, “Perhaps I AM a wannabe.”
“Perhaps, in time, I WILL see.”
“Is this what this is all about?”
A faint flickering flame swiftly snuffed out!

Further along, in an un-peopled path, a child
Looks as if to plead, “Pray, stay wild.”
There is no place for musings now
Youth is all about the ‘here’ and the ‘now’.

Thursday, April 14, 2005 | permalink | 1 comments

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