About two years ago I had written this - http://judithnv25.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-z-a-d-i.html at a time of not so whispered stirrings and the not quite strident dissent.
Cut to the present day.
Anger can only take you so far before it turns inward into a spiralling abyss. Grief further still. And as we wait for hope, we write.
I hope that even as you read this, that you do not turn away. While you stare into the deep dark void, know that there are countless others like you.
For them, for you and for me, moving on means to first admit that we grieve. That it is all right to feel all of this, this that threatens even now to consume us.
Allow yourself this time for grief. And rage. And unbridled pain.
So that when the time comes to face what lies ahead, the monsters that tower above us, the fears that grip our chests and our hearts, that we have looked you in the eye.
Stared right through the piercing frost.
Stood firm and shown that we are here.
Broken and bruised.
But very much here….
रोका है कौन आपको?
रोका है कौन आपको?
इतने खफा हो रहे हो
रोका है कौन आपको?
असीम, अनंत, बेहद ये शोर
सिर्फ जलील हुए हैं,
ईन जंजीरो, बस
यही एक अकड़ में
झूठा जलील और कितने होंगे
अपनी ये बुज़दिली पे
खौफनाक हैं ये युग हमारी
अंधकार, दर्द की सीमाये नहीं
थोडी सी मरहम लगाते
मिले हम लेकिन सिर्फ,
ये ढोंगी वादे
और कितने चीखेंगे इन आवाज़े
और कितने बनेंगे गूंगे, बेहरे
और कितने लाशें बहेंगे,
बच्चे अनाथ, बेबस माँ बाप
और कितने सीमाओं पार करेंगे
और कितनी नकारेंगे हमें?
कब तक ?
और कब तक ?
और नहीं हमें यह झेलना
रोका है कौन आपको?
इतने खफा हो रहे हो
थोड़ी सी ही मरहम लगाते
बस ख़फ़ा ही हो रहे हो....
What’s your excuse?
Except, there is
Only this,
The anger
Astride
What’s your excuse?
Save this
Boundless, endless
Noise beside.
Disgraced,
Shackled
Wanton pride
How long
Must this
The lies,
Waste wilful
This, the
Endless fear
Reside
Dreadful this
The world around us
Dark this
The incessant haze
All we asked
Was this
Empath, solace
Instead
Just this,
This, the
Hollow vows, vacant
Teary eyed.
How long must
These wailings rise
How long the
Lingering, wordless
Denied
How long
These remains
Floating abide
How long the
Cries of
Babes, mothers
Separated beside
How far
How steep
The chasms deep
Derision, mocking,
Scarring breach
How long?
How much?
No more
Burden’s grief
Denied
What’s your excuse?
Except, there is
Only this
This the anger
Deified
All we asked
Was this
Just this
Empath, solace
Instead
Just this,
This the anger
Ever more
Astride
~ Judith Vaddi
(This being my second attempt at writing a poem in Hindi, I beg your indulgence and pardon. For those who cannot read the script, I have tried to translate as best I could in English.)
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