Me – The Puzzled Person
(Lines for Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, Dr. Shihab Ghanem, Dr. Qais Ghanem and all the peace lovers of the world)

Daily, newspapers and tv channels report:
Unrest is fuming unrest.
The excruciating agony of nations,
Riddled by the shambles of reality –
War, famines, tsunami, corruption,
Interrupt my life, hardly.
What view is to be taken,
To stop feeling bound with my
Own life, and to what extent is that feasible?
The intermittent lulls of being a soldier
From my desk is the easy habit
Of commitment for me!

I am aware:
Somewhere, a child is dying
By the experience of starvation.
I am aware:
Somewhere, mothers with kids
Are being raped.
I am aware:
Somewhere, streets are bloody
To show off the rule of life:
Might is Right.
I know:
It is all wrong.

Invariably, the capacity of sleep wavers.
In fiery madness,
Demonic sounds approach my ears.
I am alone and submissive
To the voices of tanks, bombs,
Anything that kills life.
There is blazing fire.
People are running helter-skelter.
They are helpless and crying out for help.
I am a cowering prisoner.
Then, with a startling suddenness,
I am awake!

What view is to be taken,
To stop feeling bound with my
Own life, and to what extent is that feasible...?

Dubai
30th May 2011

Geeta Chhabra

Published in Dubai Al Thaqafiah on 1st September 2011.