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| Joel Robinson Photography source |
The shy kid* who
walked like a shadow
Was once a 13 year old groom
Butterflies never left his stomach yet his stony
words
Hit his child wife in their room
Squabbling kids!
The razor’s age he had trodden
Hacked and hardened his diffidence
The girmitias**
held him in esteem
And some with nonchalance
Hail the change!
His easy way was bizarre to the worldly men
Hanging a smirk on their face
Eyesore that he was needed to get rid of fast
To save the man’s own race
God
save the Man!
But the bullets targeted his chest to stop
that beat
Of the simple man
Red birds flew up from his bosom into the
void and his words
Were the silent sun
He is no more!
Mercenary killers still walk and I hear their
footsteps
In channels and paper
The red birds from the remote past bring me
the silent sun
And words dance and caper
Poets still live!
*Mahatma Gandhi
**girmitia was probably distorted form of ‘agreement’-workers who were
hired from India to work as bonded laborers in South Africa. They were deprived
of basic human rights. Gandhiji fought for them in SA.
Written
for Susan’s Midweek Motif: Social Goods @ Poets United
&
Shared with d'Verse Poetics
O! wow! That poets still live spreads Gandhiji and other blessings, no matter how hard and of these or we started out to be. And our thirteen year olds today, learning this, are a goodness in themselves, I think--maaybe with both conscience and character.
ReplyDeleteRed birds and poets..the real essence of life...uplifting words Sumana
ReplyDeleteit is the danger is speaking out...you put a target on your chest...esp from those who do not want to see things change...and are comfortable in their oppression...they fear the loss of power....
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to view people who know inner peace. Though they change the world, they appear at ease. But "worldly men" are not ready for that kind of peace. Instead, they call "peace" something to fight for. Ironic huh?
ReplyDeleteThough he is no more,his words live on ~ I specially love this part Sumana :
ReplyDeleteBut the bullets targeted his chest to stop that beat
Of the simple man
Red birds flew up from his bosom into the void and his words
Were the silent sun
Thanks for linking up with D'verse ~ Have a good week ~
A lovely tribute, both visual and through words, to a truly exceptional human being...
ReplyDeleteI so love "Red birds flew up from his bosom into the void and his words Were the silent sun". That men such as Gandhi continue to show up when they are most needed is the planet's saving grace. I think we need about a million of them right now.
ReplyDeleteI hope that poets today can have the same courage and strength in conviction. Thanks so much for sharing Sumana
ReplyDeleteAmazingly and sad on the consequence of being brave.. love the form with the short lines tying the stanzas together..
ReplyDeleteI love that expression' easy way' as one of the things I admired about Gandhi was the calm in seemed to live in. Excellent poem Sumana.
ReplyDeleteAn uplifting ending. I am glad to have fellow poets who spread his many of his ideas.
ReplyDeleteSo fortunate are we in the suburbs of the US..to simply turn off the TV..go to the backyard..and not even know of the darker sides of human nature..in fact i say it's paradise..and to blog and hear of other struggles face to face in other countries..makes me more patriotic to be free of violence on home soil..more than ever before..we are blessed and spoiled not even to know the value of Gandhi here..at least in the Suburbs of life..:.
ReplyDeletesuch a nice tribute to Gandhiji..beautiful Sumana:)
ReplyDeleteA powerful tribute to a man of peace who died a most violent death.
ReplyDeleteYes, poets still live and spread the red birds and silent sun. ~ Love the poem :)x
ReplyDeleteYour imagery strongly conveys the power of words... and the power of violence.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2014/08/21/consider/
change is not easy, especially on a large scale where others (usually those in powerful positions) differ in opinions and care more about themselves than those around them. too often it is hard to speak up...and this all the more important that we do.
ReplyDeleteWords are eternal... A beautiful relevant poem. A beautiful man and a great loss to the world. Glad to see you speak up...
ReplyDelete