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As smog of hate blankets this earth
Elephants storm out of jungles
Ravaging towns of ours*
The black night smiles with starry dimples
I cannot but write these lines
As soldiers fly abroad to kill and be killed
Death’s talon picks up starving laborers one
by one
In the silent Red Bank Tea-garden**
White Jasmine makes the night fragrant
I cannot but write these lines
As darkness breeds darkness in living
This planet starves for a drop of light
Malala rises singing aloud the change
"One child, one teacher, one pen, one book" makes
I cannot but write these lines
*Recently the incident took place in the
State where I live. Shortage of food is driving the poor Pachyderms mad.
**Another recent incident in our State
Posted for Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
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Saturday, 19 December 2015
I Cannot But Write These Lines
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Sumana, your poem gave me chills as I read it. Our world definitely needs more light. Death's talon has been way too active everywhere. Malala is a true inspiration, isn't she? I wonder sometimes how she keeps the strength inside of herself to keep giving off such abundant light as she does!
ReplyDeleteHungry people and critters all over the world, Sumana, as there are now so many humans........your lines spoke straight to my heart. Malala - and poems like yours - give light and hope. Here, we have hungry bears and cougar and wolves. Not enough habitat, not enough food. And hungry humans are everywhere, too, so your lines speak to the universal condition. The sad thing is, there is Enough, if the sharing were more just.
ReplyDeleteAs dark as it is, you've found a ray of light with education. I could imagine Malala saying all these lines as she holds a steady course. What else can we do but write? Especially If we can still see the dimples, smell the Jasmine and hear the song?
ReplyDeleteThere is hope; not as bright as I would like but hope none the less.
ReplyDeleteI think there is lot of light, but we have started to see the dark.. Maybe we let the darkness rule us with that fear.
ReplyDeleteSadly we are being encouraged to disrespect the Earth and its treasures thinking only that everything is a resource to take and profit from regardless of the consequences to our children. There are so few of us that care.
ReplyDeleteThe darkness is created by us..greed, fear and the struggle for power. If there is a way out, hope we find it very quickly. Happy new year to you Sumana.
ReplyDeleteThere is an energy in this poem that has a feeling of possibility...change..hope - and she is indeed an inspirational young woman..like many children perhaps who also bravely fight for a better future everyday..
ReplyDeleteoh yes a portrait of hope is young Malala, in a world thrashed in strife.
ReplyDeleteShe visited Trinidad in 2014
Sumana thanks for dropping in at my Sunday Lime today
much love...
This is so heartbreaking! May there be light of hope and peace in our world. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking and beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteThis planet starves for a drop of light, so much truth in those words.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see Malala's face and hear her words, I am suddenly filled with hope and peace...with determination to be a better person. She is our hope...and I am glad you wrote these words.
ReplyDeleteDonna@LivingFromHappiness
Chillingly well written Sumana and great choice of individual to offer up as a shining palliative response touch darkness and despair - "a smog of hate" Great write... With Best Wishes Scott
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. Something pricked me as I read the poem. May there be more peace, hope and light in this world. Let's hope for a better 2016.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this poem. So many things about it are wonderful. The imagery - I love the image of elephants storming out of jungles, and your use of repetition. Very effective.
ReplyDeleteWell written ...with compassion and understanding.
ReplyDeleteZQ
She is an inspiration & its heartbreaking to read these stories ~ Wishing you a blessed holiday and joyful new year Sumana ~ All the best ~
ReplyDeleteYour words bring hope and Malala is a strong light of inspiration to all of us,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Tragedy prevails....
ReplyDeleteI have hope - I cannot help but write that. Animals and humans starving, death, sorrow - in spite of it all, I have hope for us all and pray for it.
ReplyDeletePeace to you and your home.
ReplyDeleteHow dreadfully sad Sumana. I'm sorry this is happening so close to home. But how beautiful to know a spirit like Malla's exists. Blessings to you and to all of us.
ReplyDeleteIs it because evil has conquered humans' hearts..or because of the silence of "good" people who have the ability to stand against such evil?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute!
ReplyDeleteStunning! I loved your poem. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year! :-)
Greetings from London.
I agree with your vision about everything else but Malala. She is one dummy being focussed on by the Western world.She will,for example,never speak about Palestine,or Rachel Corrie or Yemen,or Kurdish women being raped by ISIS or the real issue with Afganisthan.Nazibullah's murder.The creation of Osama Bin Laden.The illegal weapon trade.The issue with Erdogan.Ammunition,creation,training of the entire Islamic fundamentalism propaganda.People have got to know somehow.That this propaganda itself.
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