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Survival or Domination? The Dark Side of Human Nature

An evocative poem by Dr Molly, exclusively for Different Truths, wherein despite calls for peace, poetic efforts to liberate humanity from inhumanity, and widespread protest against war, a disheartened question remains.

Of what avail?
the hues and cries
against war,
the clamour for peace,
the ceaseless poetic efforts at
squeezing out the humane
from the brazen, frozen
mane of the inhuman...
 
who listens?
just a few croaking,
communing frogs
covert in hides of their own...
 
croaking, croaking...
 
it falls flat on the mighty
leviathans, states, governments,
vengeful, blindfolded
insaniacs
who vehemently pursue their
dastardly killing act...
 
this killing spree was ingrained
in the human psyche when
nomadic groups of yore
spread, fought and
killed the other
for survival of the fittest...
 
times have gone,
but the killing,
destroying game continues
in roaring fury of greed
to dominate...
 
no, not for survival
but for power politics,
to establish its domain
crushing everything
beneath...
 
who cares for
the bruised child
traumatised
by smashed, charred bodies
of his parents,
endlessly weeping for his Mom
and for his favourite toy that
was lost in the rush...
 
No! sentiments are meant
for weaker stuff like poets,
or the ordinary who bear
the brunt
or the ranting philosopher or priest
Oh, of course for those
demagogues, opportunistic,
who makes the crocodile tears?
 
The game continues
uninterrupted...
 
It thunders! it blasts!
 
impervious...
 
all cat cries, cuckoo calls,
pitted against
against
the impenetrable!

Picture design by Anumita Roy

author avatar
Dr. Molly Joseph
Dr Molly Joseph, a bilingual professor and poet from Kerala, has published 26 books, including 18 poems, two novels, and two storybooks for children. She has edited "A Handbook of Contemporary Ethics" and works for values, global peace, and togetherness. Dr Joseph has won national and international accolades and represents India at SAARC and FOSWAL literature meets. She believes in the power of the word and writes boldly on contemporary matters.

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