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