Friday, April 24, 2009

A haiku and a septolet

* * *

lanka declares war
children die
and mothers.

* * *

looking for
tigers
the state
took arms

what followed
was one
bloody nonsense war.

* * *

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

So succinct, yet very potent.

laluelizabeth said...

your rage is evident
let us collect all of ours together
and let them know we care
and turn the whole world against this arrogant insensitivity
rampant all over the world
the powerful against the most powerless...
shame on the human race!

संदीप said...

After reading you poems, I wanna quote one of Pastor Martin Niemöller, just to show my support to your feelings and anger:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me...

Sudeep said...

Thanks I'm.

Lalu, you're right, I was feeling restless for long, and this is all that I could do, but it at least makes me feel better.

Sandeep, that one is one of my favourites too.

My friend Nissim commented on facebook, "some tough words spring from a soft heart . . ."Mm.. This was the mildest I could make it.

Sambhaji R Chopdekar said...

when 'tigers' had been massacring the innocent, none came forward to deplore...but when they have been cornered, the so-called humanists are crying foul!...alas! what a mess in understanding humanity!!

Sudeep said...

Sambhaji,

Thanks for raising that question.

One expects the state to be more civilized, more reasonable, than 'tigers' and terrorists.

Love
Sudeep

संदीप said...

Now Sambhaji would say, Israel's attack on Palestine, America's so called war against terrorism is good and America's Vietnam occupation was excellent and killing so many civilians in Iraq was wonderful.

Sudeep said...

Here is what "official" reports say: UN says nearly 6,500 civilians dead in Sri Lanka.

Arun said...

Yes, the civilian casualties are a terrible tragedy. Now the Lankan government has ordered that high power,mass killing ammunition wont be used. So guess the worst is over.

Now, I dont oppose the military campaign. More than one lakh people died in the 30 year conflict, really harmed the economy, and killed an Indian prime minister. The LTTE were not exactly the people with a lot of heart: please read this. If this ends here, good. Better than having LTTE, and a nation at constant war.

And I dont see if Martin Niemöller's quote has any relevance here.

Arun

Sudeep said...

Dear Arun,

First, I do not have any sympathies for LTTE.

Now, you think civilian casualities are a "terrible tragedy"? I don't think you'd say that had you been among them, or any of your relatives or friends, for that matter. That is where Niemoller's piece is relevant.

Regards
Sudeep

Arun said...

Sudeep,

Now I understood the context of the quote, and agree with it :)

Thanks
Arun