Dr Molly’s poem describes fallen humanity crying out “Bargained Peace”, a painful illusion built on vested interests, fuelling endless cycles of war, greed, and destruction, for Different Truths.
Bargained Peace,
You have fallen!
Is it Peace
Piecemeal!
How can I
trust you
'bargained peace '
chiselled on
vested interests
veiled,
though collective
efforts of
human goodwill
tries hard
to iron it out
on one end...
well,
wars, domination
was ingrained
in mankind
ever since
his days of
survival...
history saw
gory pictures
of invasion
demolition, killing...
pity it persists
uglier than ever
now
with man
claiming
progress, as the
mastermind
of the universe
he builds...
fight, dominance
once
predicated upon
survival, now
turning a
venue for greed
arrogance
ruthless looting
divested off
values, humane...
how the evil
in man
revels erasing
the innate good,
the humane.
how innocents
turn a prey,
how many
mutilated, killed
villages ravaged
homes, hospitals
schools, centres of
worship
demolished...
locals cast away
treated as aliens
in their native land,
how weeping mothers flee
for life
dragging little ones
who cry for
their little toys
left in the fray.
Hah!
now peace comes
piece meal.
the dispossessed
return to the rubble where
their homes
once stood...
Empty.
the little one
drops down
from mother's
shoulder,
searches
for his toy
scrambling,
the ground
scratching...
Vain.
Where have
the men gone?
the long wait
outside the tent
to recognise
bodies brutally
wounded
dead, covered in
bundles...
Hmm...
peace, piecemeal
flows...
So kind
to hand over
the decayed bodies...
War! Warring minds!
what else
you extract
save,
suffering
of fellow men,
poor mothers, elders, kids...
save,
destruction, demolition
unleashed!
killing all
the human, the Bird, the animal
devastating Nature!
Cry! Cry!
Fallen Humanity!
Picture Design by Anumita Roy
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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