da incorrigible SAZEAL

Guess what... i dug out some of my most favourite poems while organizing my Lappie...

Way back on Jan 26, 2001, when there was a major earthquake in Gujrat, followed by devastation of an unforseen scale... i was preparing for my 12th boards, which was like 1 month later... and i could not study... that is when i wrote it (29TH Jan 2001)... its crux not only represents earthquake, but any calamity that makes us understand that we are mere mortals and we must not be too vain to value life...

It goes like this...

The terse was ripe, people ebullient and gay,
Saluting the tricolour on the republic day.
Buildings stood high, as high as visions could reach,
Our achievements and prosperity these used to preach,
“This is where everything, my everything lies”
“This is heaven”, I said, ”this is my paradise.”

I started trembling, I shuddered and quavered,
Like a doodlebug deploying, explosions I heard,
I saw earth cracking right below me,
The walls giving away, the ceiling falling on me.
Then someone screamed, ”this is a bhookamp”
I was on the first floor and I made a jump.

I was safe in the open when the building came down,
I’d always thought it was the strongest one in town.
High rises collapsed, everything like a jumble
The beautiful locality turned into a rubble.
Someone said, “Doctor look at my son, why doesn’t he answer?”
I was helpless, I had no answer!

Tens of thousands died; lakhs amputated,
Friends crushed to death and families parted.
Decaying under concrete are near and dear ones.
No shelter, no security, only battered dreams of living ones.

God!! Do me a favour, give me an answer…
What had this two month old done, whom you so brutally butcher
My people are lost;
My paradise is lost.

I pray to you Ram, I pray to you Jesus,
I meditate on you Allah.
Do not impose such atrocities on anyone, anywhere…
‘Coz the dead are cremated, but the living hearts burn!!