I
Do you think if you didn’t know
that a border lay in between
that you could tell apart
these grass green fields?
What’s theirs and what’s ours?
Which is this side, and which is that?
that a border lay in between
that you could tell apart
these grass green fields?
What’s theirs and what’s ours?
Which is this side, and which is that?
Pat came the reply, no.
And I don’t think I should want to.
We were one once,
and I think just that knowledge,
for now, should do.
And I don’t think I should want to.
We were one once,
and I think just that knowledge,
for now, should do.
II
They gather in hoards,
everyday. Come hail or heat.
They smile and take their seats.
Men and women apart,
resting in one giant beating heart.
Their hands move to the beat
of the drums and of
the impending retreat.
they go back in memory
and shriek in agony,
“zindabaad!”
everyday. Come hail or heat.
They smile and take their seats.
Men and women apart,
resting in one giant beating heart.
Their hands move to the beat
of the drums and of
the impending retreat.
they go back in memory
and shriek in agony,
“zindabaad!”
III
It’s there. It’s right there.
I could almost step over
and be a part of them.
All these years, it has fascinated
my brain, and I,
have only thought of going there
but it’s only now that I
have come close enough.
I could almost step over
and be a part of them.
All these years, it has fascinated
my brain, and I,
have only thought of going there
but it’s only now that I
have come close enough.
Why don’t you, she asks.
These lines were made by us
no one wanted it, yet
everyone chose to live it through.
We were one once,
but for now,
this reality will have to do.
These lines were made by us
no one wanted it, yet
everyone chose to live it through.
We were one once,
but for now,
this reality will have to do.
IV
They chant away to dispel the threat
they chant away, unified breath.
They know what they think.
They know how they feel
but do they know what they do?
another war seems overdue.
The other side is silent
and with each passing minute
Their wishes turn violent.
they chant away, unified breath.
They know what they think.
They know how they feel
but do they know what they do?
another war seems overdue.
The other side is silent
and with each passing minute
Their wishes turn violent.
V
The ceremony of it all – pristine
and a voice rises
I feel a pang of pride
and I stifle the pain
there was a loss then
and maybe tomorrow
will show some gains.
and a voice rises
I feel a pang of pride
and I stifle the pain
there was a loss then
and maybe tomorrow
will show some gains.
I can’t see a thing, she says.
She blames it on the height.
We were one nation once,
and now, in ceremony we fight.
She still has no clue.
This oblivion, for now,
will have to do.
She blames it on the height.
We were one nation once,
and now, in ceremony we fight.
She still has no clue.
This oblivion, for now,
will have to do.
VI
The wild dance contrasted
with calm and composure.
The pomp and show undercut
by silent spectators.
while they jumped and shouted
and slogans they cried,
the ones stuck in the middle,
if only for the while,
knew that the two sides
were one whole once
but in that fanfare, they know,
they couldn’t reconcile
even if they tried.
They and I return,
slightly shaken, mostly subdued
that land is another, far off one,
and for now, this truth
will just have to do.
with calm and composure.
The pomp and show undercut
by silent spectators.
while they jumped and shouted
and slogans they cried,
the ones stuck in the middle,
if only for the while,
knew that the two sides
were one whole once
but in that fanfare, they know,
they couldn’t reconcile
even if they tried.
They and I return,
slightly shaken, mostly subdued
that land is another, far off one,
and for now, this truth
will just have to do.
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