Friday, December 05, 2008

More on Mumbai

Unlike other people who are keen on "getting on with life" post Mumbai, I doggedly hold on to the negativity, until something more concrete than people losing plum jobs happens. Until there is a strategy in place for the protection of this country. Until our policymakers realise that the voter is not an idiot. The theme of destruction continues.

Can you feel
the clock ticking?
Time
licking its minutes away
as we lie perspiring
wrapped in a rug
on an old, war beaten street
that neither you nor I recognise.
The stones
yet as familiar
as if
they have gulped our blood down
their parched throats
and a little
streaming down the sides of the mouth ...

Is this a nightmare
or does the terror of war
actually transcend Births?

19 comments:

Yamini Meduri said...

it was a night mare dear
but not anymore now

cant imagine the start
not the end of the day
everything and every minute
is off our hands...!!!

we are living here
with a hope and wish
to see the next day
to see the next minute

be it with joy or with sorrow
lets be united to fight the time
that is going bitter day by day
with tears to shed n hearts 2 loose

shall we still wait
to see it turn better
or shall we act now
to make it ourselves???

Think Tank said...

its a nightmare we can't end ...perfectly written..tho that sounds so wierd 2 say about such a thing

Saadia said...

I hope public memory is not short-lived in this case, as it is in so many cases. But I also hope that that memory ignites not bitterness and hatred, but resilience and courage.

P.S. Is this a nightmare
OF does the terror of war
actually transcend Births?
Is that a typo?

Maddening Silences said...

Its actually worse than night mare... the one that hounds us while we are awake and one that haunts us even as we sleep... as brave men continue to give their lives...its a shame that there are still ppl( read politicians)around who constantly fuel the fire...as long as ppl( read ourselves)dont shake ourselves out of our slumber...such nightmares shall continue...

The Phosgene Kid said...

Warfare is between combatants and actually follows a set of rules. The rules are designed to protect civilians caught in the midst of the fight. The people who committed the Mumbai bombing, or any other car bombing are murders, madmen, and butchers, not soldiers.This is not warfare, it is a struggle against the criminally insane.

Anonymous said...

Time
licking its minutes away..

What expression! As Dil said-the nightmare passed us by.But as you said- it shall remain fresh for a long long time. Yes, we are scarred and scarred badly..

Anonymous said...

Its still so fresh
:(

Mampi said...

My goodness, HDWK, you are amazing with your images, a wizard with your words.
Loved the progress in the first segment.
As for the hope, yes I am a foolish optimist, but I DO NOT want life to come back to normal.

BiScUiTs said...

I like the poem, it is very interesting.
It is a shame that there are people who want to cause trouble and upset other peoples lives. I'm fortunate enough to live in a safe country but it's always disheartening to hear of trouble going on in other countries. I find India fascinating and I hope that things get better.

zirelda said...

It was a horrible thing to happen. I hope you find your peace and solace soon. It seems in the times we live in now peace is an unreachable goal so we must instead protect ourselves.

Which is a shame.

Manish Raj said...

Life will go on HDWK; unfortunately our anger or fear do not last.

We will have to work towards it.

WritingsForLife said...

may their souls rest in peace.

How do we know said...

Hi dil ki pyar: I vote for acting now and changing things ourselves.

Hi Think tank: why weird?

Hey Saadia: Thanks for the typo info. I corrected it!

Hi You know me very well: I think, this one time, the politicians have understood, as has the media, that the stupid common man is united in this. Thats why there are no provocative statements, no media rhetoric .. just plain actions. I like that.

hi Phos: This thing was written a long time ago.. about the 1948 battle in Kashmir. The first of the many to follow. But i understand what you mean. However, even in the war governed by rules, civilians do get hurt... a lot.You know that better than i ever can...

Hi Mithe: This one time, I want us to remember our scars, and to remember them each time the politician give out a divisive speech.

Hi Hobo: Yes, it is..

How do we know said...

Hi Mampi: As usual, thank you. You say such nice words! And am glad u dont want life to come back to normal!

Hi Biscuits: I hope so too. Thank you.

Hi Zirelda: Very true.

Hi Manish: The ongoing anger this time gives me hope. Lots of hope, actually.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your kind offer.

I'm glad I came to visit yours. Powerful words.

Keshi said...

ur like me..it's so hard for me to FORGET.

But like u said, alot of ppl hv already forgotten abt it and r getting on with their lives. Sadly thats human nature.


Keshi.

Ekta said...

tats the problem...we indians live too much on hope..on the hope tat SOMEONE ELSE will change things....

Kanupriya said...

Really nice...Unfortunately this nightmare is a brutal reality.
I've been reading your blog for quite some time now, thanks to my subscription feeder for showing your link in recommendation section.

How do we know said...

Hi Caitlin: :-) Thank you too.

Hi Keshi: Sadly... maybe, maybe not. Sometimes, its a good thing to move on. Sometimes, its not.

Hi Ekta: Yep. True!

Hi Kanupriya: My blog? In the recommendations section? Really??? Which feeder? Am very curious. This is not what i expected at all. You made my day!