In view of what is happening in India, with the riots against Muslims, and the way the MODI government is fanning the flames of hatred and violence, I have penned this ODE to my land.
My Land.
Your land was my land
I left it decades ago
in your hand.
My love and longings
my childhood and youth
were my beginnings.
The smiles in the eyes,
the laughter and games there
drowned squeals and cries.
It was the land of Tagore,
it was the land of Iqbal and Kabir
Ghalib’s and Mira Bai’s beloved land—
Today, my land asks of me
where did the laughter go?
Where the lives of the carefree?
This hue and cry of the mob
tainted with prejudice
makes my heart sob.
Young blood out on the streets
Hindus and Muslims fighting together
for one cause, hopefully deletes
The difference of religion and faith
and prejudice and injustice~~
and the blood on the streets
crying out for peerage and quality and justice.
Your land was my land
which I left in your hand
decades ago. Please wash the blood
off your hands, and let me
sing its praise again.
Zakiah Sayeed
Your ode is powerful and sad. So disturbing that hate is so prevalent in the world.
Thank you for your comment Carrie. It hurts me so much to watch the atrocities of the government-directed police on innocent students of a university, and the blood shed that is causing massive riots. How quickly humans become rabid animals!
Sorry to hear about it. What a fitting poem.
It is unbelievable to see this destruction of societies in India.
I bet.
Lovely, heart tugging and an anguished cry of love for your land. It’s painful watching all of this. Once the flames of hatred are fanned, it’s impossible to stop them.
Matt, my nephew sent pictures of the peaceful protest of almost 75 thousand people in a small town where my mother had grown up. That town was such a peaceful town, and Hindus and Muslims lived side by side and shared foods and religious holidays. Fortunately, many educated Hindus are against the rulings by the Modi government, and have spoken out. But I think the seeds of hatred are sown and only time will tell us how the history will be written.
I just commented on another blog post about the need to see the similarities instead of the differences! I am praying for peace this holiday (and peace all over the world to include the land of your birth).
Thank you Val. You have read my books and how I languish and yearn for that land of mine. It feels like I have pieces of glass stuck on the surface of my heart.
“Pieces of glass stuck on the surface of my heart…” Poetic even in your comments! I don’t understand why there is so much hate and violence in the world!
Wonderful poem Zakiahji.
Thank you very much. The head is bowed, the spirit is breaking, watching the violence and injustice is defining the animalistic behavior of the humans whom the Indians put in office. Reminds me of the event of Jalianwala Bagh at the time of British rule.
True.
Sadly people have lost their ability to analyse any thing properly. They believe in whatsapp lies. Communal maginalisation will damage every aspect unconditionally.
I know your heart is hurting, SweetZ. In your poem, you have captured what is happening…your words present the horror, the emotions, the injustice…so vividly. Your poem brings tears to my eyes.
Prayers for peace…peace in your heart and peace in your precious land.
(((HUGS)))
An understanding heart knows it all. Thank you.
This is so sad. But i will hate to like it. I feel so bad about this whole thing. You have captured it all!
Thank you for stopping by my site and commenting. I feel so helpless and the only thing I can do is write about the atrocities.
Your poem says so much. Prayers for healing and peace for your land and other’s land as well.
Thank you Elizabeth. Love and hugs.