A soldier’s plea from the border

Reuters photo

By

Ashi Kalim

A soldier’s plea from the border

Drenched in blood, I lie in trench

To save myself from

manual scavenging,

From the blitz of

political valour that sings,

Amounting to bury me–

I lie in scuffle –

I close my lips that utter ruffles

Of the past galore of strikes

Beyond the borders too lies a freight,

Sand dunes of memorabilia

Questions and thwarts,

For patriotic fervour

The wars are sold,

For countries’ glory–

They don’t come

Only bury me alive,

Burdened my shoulder

with rationalism,

Nationalism chest thumping- galore

Wickedly as human I feel–Abhor,

The Radio jitters,

And bluffs netizens,

Fake news — ablaze,

Citizens betrayed,

As a sniper

Bullets dipped blood-wine,

I can’t wail

They sit in ACs

In big Lamborghinis

Issue an order,

Come let’s play game

War –

Let’s endeavour war

And relish

Let me suffer

And let them’ relish – suffrage

A politically charged and polarised situation had risen that We Indians take a stand against terrorist breeding countries.

After the brief Pulwama Attack and our soldiers martyred, my father in law suggested to me fiercely “Not to hit the gym with a Burqa on your body- anything can happen anytime.”

Last night my child came up with a revelation and I am sorry I can’t name the school – that after this heinous attack kids in her class bullied her as a Pakistani. Shame on them, she eats beef and is teased by puking it out. Even the intellectuals and liberals are on this side.

The henchmen, the caste oppressors, the arsonists, and the swindlers have taken over Hind-u-staan and the naked, shameless emperor is shaking hands with the Saudi King who finances the terrorist countries!

And this emperor is seen as Messiah of development….. WTF.

No, it’s not because of him alone we have given into a weapon called HATE and he has garrotted us. The pluralistic society they are talking of had nothing to do with religion.

I would like to quote Nabina Das, an international status-poet. She states this age is anti-poetry and anti-knowledge, quoting Pastor Niemöller’s poem that even our perpetrators know is true. While intellectuals intellectualize in several ways, the poet here warns us sorrowfully. But, then came…

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me!

#SayNoToWar

Ashi Kalim

ASHI KALIM is a homemaker, avid traveller and an explorer. She is a novelist, National Book Honour Award Winner (NBHA), international poetess and a content writer at www.allaboutlives.com, Eyoguroo.com, Midnightdiary, Qodro.com, The Times of India (Content writer), sparkling.biz

She has been interviewed as TOP TRENDING AUTHORS TO FOLLOW IN INDIA: DÉ MODÉ magazine (Italy/ India) www.deltaaegis.com

She is a writer of the HISTORICAL FICTION genre. Her recent Novel has come up titled “The Day Before…I Died “– MATRYOSHKA in East – available internationally. Her novel had been handpicked by KINDLE amongst foreign authors.

Her short story book has come up titled OOPS-EMBARRASSING MOMENTS.

Soul Sojourn book launched by shri shri Ravishankerji, ART OF LIVING.

She has voiced ‘Corruption’ in her latest book launched by Ms. Priya Dutt & Lt. Gov. Dr. Kiran Bedi, had all praised her efforts.

Her poetry has already been published in ‘Writing bee‘ and‘Elysian literary Journal‘ (ANTHOSINE ON FEMINISM). Her poems find it’s space too on an International level. Her poetry “I DO BLEED” had been published internationally.

She keeps writing for world peace, the need of the hour. She has given her powerful words to the cause of Refugees, Racism and Syrian kids in an international anthology titled REFUGEES, RACISM- RESISTANCE & HUMANITARIAN VOICES VOL I & VOL II.

Her education and romance with literature started when she was young and in a convent school. Further she completed her Masters in C.S. from prestigious Central varsity A.M.U. She was a computer science educationist, for quite long time & has researched a lot in the field. She has worked in Defence COD as a Corporate Trainer. For her learning is a life-long process.

She is an orator and an activist too. Working with JaiHo (NGO) foundation & Being Social- Ek Nayi Shuruwat, praised by PM Modi in Man ki Baat.

She speaks her mind through her pen and participates in various social causes.