Did any of your kin die?
Or any for whom you would shed a tear?
Would you have to skip a meal?
Or suffer damage to property?
Or have effect on monthly wages?
Then why do you say
You are affected?
You feel angry?
Sad?
Anxious?
Threatened?
You could have been there, right?
So something must be done, you say.
You are right,
Something must be done -
But what?
You say - something. Anything.
Quick action.
Strong steps.
Ban the ***,
Hang the ***,
Raid the ***,
Kill the ***.
But then.
Hundreds die
Of floods
In Bihar every year
Or in Orissa of heat
Or in Delhi of cold
And on the day of such news
You calmly sip your morning-tea
And fold the paper
And call up your son.
What then?
Isn't it ironic
That when those people
Feel threatened
And insecure;
And some rebel outfit
Or insurgent group
Promises them security,
And they follow blindly,
You call them poor illiterates.
Come to think of it,
They too are just doing something.
Something, anything.
- Kriti Sen SharmaImage credits: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/mumbai_under_attack.html
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(Poem 1 of 2 written as a reaction to Mumbai terrror attack, November 2008. Read other poem here.)
Was asked by friend, Deepu George, to write in my reactions to the terror attack. He planned to read out such inputs on his radio show (aired on WUVT). These two poems were written as a result of Deepu's request. However, after writing the poems I felt that many people might take offense at my emotions about the attacks. Eight months later, I feel these poems can now be released.
