POEM

At the Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Why did we invent language?

To diminish boundaries, or the other way around?

All religion is serene;

It’s we the people, who’ve sort of forgotten

Why we created religion in the first place.

It’s us, always been us,

Who downgraded one religion, or the other;

Ours was always the better one.

We fought wars,

We conquered.

What do you do when you see your reflection;
Not in the water, or a mirror either. But
In a person.
Its almost like seeing a ghost.
What do you do then?
Reach out?
Try to grab it?
Talk to it?
Or do you scamper off in your closet? Scared.

They died here that day,
Died.
They did not do a noble deed,
No. They were not martyrs,
They were victims. Of some general’s desire
To implement, to enforce, to scare.
They were not martyrs.
Had you told them, they’d be killed for gathering in the bagh
They wouldn’t have arrived that day
I think.
I wouldn’t have had at least.