Sometimes I do not like meeting people Whenever I do not like meeting myself Meaningless actions and meaningless words Among the multitude of meaningless people Make me feel the need to enjoy the absurdity To understand that a word in need Is just a word indeed. And when the heaven fell on earth I thought it was a dead flower[Read More...]
The post The Dead Flower appeared first on Countercurrents.
Every year thousands of mothers experience their healthy child slip away into an autistic abyss. It’s agonizing and heartbreaking. They know the cause, but are often ridiculed and demeaned if dare speak up.
This is the true story of my friend April and her son, Aydan.
I was inspired by her story so I wrote a poem about it. Because art can sometimes reach people in ways conversation, debate and presentations cannot.
A soul without a body was walking Wondering how much time was left in his life The corpses on the side of the road Seemed to be breathing A man with a chopped hand Was struggling to ride a bicycle Women hid their faces For the shame others have done to them The past was best to be forgotten The[Read More...]
The post Kashmir appeared first on Countercurrents.
On the night of broken glass he reads a poem by Faiz. Outside, someone drives under influence down a frail bridge across the river, after the rains. jo toot gaya, so toot gaya ‘Khuda Hafiz. Khuda Hafiz, Would there be salvage after the wreck?’ asks the squeaky wiper blades to the tune of filmy rain dance that fogs the pane.[Read More...]
A ghazal for all Kashmiris and In Memoriam Agha Shahid Ali Soldiers have died in vain and will again. Lovers have kissed in rain and will again. Neighbors dispute, tragically lose all calm. Nations have split in twain and will again. Beauty gives power to hurt or heal with balm. Passion brings exquisite pain and will[Read More...]
The post Again appeared first on Countercurrents.
Dear oh dear Ilhan We see you in our sleep We see you when awake We hear you in all of our being There is nothing like a voice That wavers never at all There is nothing like the strength Of dignity withal Please don’t ever tire Your energies should never wane Stay vigilant dear Ilhan You bless us with[Read More...]
The post Dear Ilhan appeared first on Countercurrents.
Celebrate, Celebrate the Independence Day While Munch-like screams explode Like fireworks lighting the night sky Silent, vociferous, full of angst Unable to speak Bleak, bleak, bleak. Oh, the cruelty of life! The anger and strife Guernica revisited each time. This is not just about soldiers who die. But about all those who silently cry For a dozen different whys? A[Read More...]
I cannot speak anymore the language of my oppressors. My memory gradually corroded by a billion ants folds into itself. I cannot think anymore, my eyes are vacant, perpetually wandering. I’m defenceless as ever, I put my papers in place and patiently await my turn at the guillotine for them to press the button, for them to cut off my[Read More...]
The post Post Truth appeared first on Countercurrents.
After Dorianne Laux’s “Kiss” They are kissing at gunpoint. They know they cannot be caught kissing. They are kissing as though the chinars never saw any bloodshed, only lipstick. Asifa is grown up now, she’s kissing her love and her horses are dancing the grass is erupting in joy, the valley is rushing in its unviolated grace because they are[Read More...]
A black father is gone A black husband is gone A black friend is gone A black human is gone He couldn’t breathe He said as much They cared enough To kill him Unsafe Even in your own skin Dead Leaving your kin Remorse is absent Like after stepping on an ant Go, go home Be with your loved ones[Read More...]
The post Garnering Acquittal appeared first on Countercurrents.
