Do not pluck flowers,
please
Do not walk on the
grass.
Do not cut the
trees, please
Do not set forests
on fire.
Flowers have a purpose,
Lord
Flowers have to
blossom,
Flowers have to spread
fragrance,
Flowers have to bear
fruits.
You would remember us
Sitting cross-legged on
the floor
Before you, before the
lighted lamps
The flickering flames
casting shadows
On your impassive face.
Shadows fall on our
faces, Lord
Shadows of doubts, of
disbelief
Suspicion rise, like a
snake's tongue
Our minds flick, sense
Your presence, our
enemy.
You are our enemy,
Lord,
You are the enemy of
life.
We are not of your
image
Nor are we your
creations.
Faith, you made us have
Faith in you.
Trust, you tricked us
to have
Trust in you.
Love, oh, we never
knew,
We squandered on one
that never was.
Born, we were, of the
seeds
Blown in by the winds
of time.
Blighted, we would be
and
Blown out, into oblivion.
But let us be, let us
Bask in the sun, let us
Be drenched in the
rain.
Let us smell the earth
Let us find joy in
living
And let us fade and
fall
Like flowers, at dusk.
Do not pluck flowers,
Lord
Do not stamp on the
grass.
Let the flowers laugh
Let the grass dance
Let birds perch on the
trees
Let life bloom, let
rivers flow.
*******
P S: I am anguished at
the loss of young lives – and devastated to realize that there is
no 'meaning' to life...
Intense.. To read about such unfortunate things makes your heart wrench. What have such young lives done to deserve such a fate. Yet...the one up above is a puppeteer.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I am not a believer in God; but I speak for those who do, so earnestly, so deeply and then when misfortune falls, are left bewildered and confused. I am irate at such powers if there are any, for leading them into the false security, the utmost faith and trust they give to such powers, so misplaced and wasted... Those girls in the picture are around 16-17 - what a way to go! In the eyes of Mubashira or Safina or whoever I see the sparkle of dreams. It hurts so much...
DeleteThere you are again ! Loved the lines so much that as always I am confused to discipline my thoughts here.Well,I feel the pain,the trauma of being 'human' in all those verses there..
ReplyDelete"Born, we were, of the seeds
Blown in by the winds of time.
Blighted, we would be and
Blown out, into oblivion."
I have this to show my daughter since she is into this kind of poems of late.
And some thoughts Balachandran..
I beleive 'faith' can't go with 'trust'.Faith is a dead belief where as when we reach trust there is nothing more between us.We already had the confusions,thoughts and arguments and settled completely;into TRUST.Trust emerges from real soulful thoughts.Here I see Balachandran the confused or agonist.We all are,to some extent.People like Philip M.prasad say that being an agonist is my right.True,isn't it ? These are the situations where we may go deep into the so called 'existence' of God.But I admit have gone far from there.
But let us be, let us
Feel the sun, let us
Be drenched in the rain.
Let us smell the earth
Let us find joy in living
And let us fade and fall
Like flowers, at dusk.
(This is what I LOVED so much here.But on another note,I would love to say it's not about 'plucking flowers'.It's about us.We have to live each moment we live.How many of us do that Balachandran ? better to balance us and LIVE so that we LIVE forever !)
I do not usually strain for rhyming, but if the choice of words are appropriate, I do like rhyming. Great to know that your daughter is into poetry! If she enjoys playing with the language, there is nothing like poetry, so gratifying!
DeleteLike I told Bindu, I am not the one speaking here, because I am not sure of the existence of God, though culturally compelled to believe. I perfectly understand the irrationality and futility of placing oneself before the 'unseen' powers, but I feel the pain of those who do, those who cry out Eli eli Iama sabachtani. I am not confused, but I do feel agonized.
I am trying hard to forget the past, not to worry too much about the future. I tell myself that the present is the important thing. But it is not quite easy, M. One hopes to make adequate provisions ( read financial) for the future, but nothing seems enough! So one keeps on having a miserable 'present' in order for a happy future that may or may not come...
.
Balan Sir: I love the poetry yet have hard time understanding the below lines:
ReplyDeleteYou are our enemy, Lord
You are the enemy of life ...
Would you mind explaining your thoughts behind that?