In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
Alas! Then, too, nothing but death prevails.

Tear open the muzzle of every gun!
Burst open the stomach of every tank!
Point to the example of every war…
Wars are self-induced by all of us.

In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
Alas! Then, too, nothing but death dances.

What is victory?
That innocent civilians suffer from rages
Of conflict?
What are conquests?
That fire bombs destroy beauty
Of cities and towns?

In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
Alas! Then, too, nothing but graves we dig.

What are we looking for at the moment?
In any event, the verdict is hopeless.
The model of war is a complete disaster!
Come now, make peace!

In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
In Youth's the time for peace.

In the same as a human
Despairs from a loved one lost –
I am maimed to learn, everyday:
In such hostility we are all trapped!

In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
Alas! Then, too, nothing but death prevails.

See! Despite the hearts that beat in us,
In savage battles we kill our own brethren.
We have simply turned into stone!
We must reverse this ill-fated process.

In Youth's the time for rejoicing!
Let fair reason and emotion prevail.

Dubai
12th February 2015

Geeta Chhabra