The New War

Again.again, that dreaded flare,
Humanity maimed, a nation mauled,
Will confusion rule hearts?
Minds beseiged, a prisoner of own thoughts
Of doubts, of fears, of bitter anger,
Green turfs torn apart
To expose ruddy underbelly of life;
Seeds of hatred sown unseen
In minds of turmoil,
To sprout plants of mayhem!

Flying High

I am up and away, into the sky,
The deep blue beyond fills my eyes,
My patch work quilt I have left behind,
The rain is below making me blind;
Fly! Oh fly! My soul, ever so high,
An Eagle swirling o'er head, no land neigh:
Like a Monarch reign in my open space,
Sunshine is my kingdom, leaves no place
For shadows that hide, for the peircing pain,
My domain is joy, my heaven's gained;
Fly! Oh fly! my soul, ever so high,
No sun can melt my soul, this is my sky.

You'll Live Again

When love is gone, and you feel alone,
Close down your heart, uproot your pain,
And then, you'll live again;

When it's growing dark, and lights don't shine,
Shut mind's blinds, to soul sustain,
And then, you'll live again;

When storms assault, and shelter's far,
Draw close your strength, build on your bane,
And then, you'll live again,
You'll live once again.

Prayer of the Cross

Hold! Restrain your cruel hand;
Spare me a life of ignominy,
An eternity of shame
Carrying that holy frame.

Forgive, my Lord, forgive,
My helpless pain I submit,
With your loving touch
This wood enrich.

Lambs of your fold kneel
In worship, in reverence,
Blessed with your blood, I live
In faithful hearts a rememberance.

December 6, 1992

My Nation! My Nation!
I grieve for thee:
For a trust betrayed,
For a people befooled.
When brick by brick, our Babri fell,
Did Rama smile?
His hearth he beheld o’er run,
A pilgrimage defiled!

Can we forget? Can we forgive?
The lives snuffed,
Burning candles put out.
The orphans’ cries, the mothers’ tears,
Yet haunt our ears.
Shame, O shame!
Anguish fills a race,
Anger, the hearts they rape.

A Walk through the Dark

The sun has lost its warmth, the moon its shine,
No longer do I mourn this loss of mine,
Life now a trudging, uphill task,
Every word a lie, each face a mask;
No doorway can I find, no escape,
In each human touch there is rape.
In darkness burn a million stars,
Shine of twinkling lights, stays afar,
My path unseen, shadows around,
Each step a death, traps abound.

Love's Burden

You nail me to a cross,
You whip me like a cur,
My sides you jab to let blood flow,
My head adorned with crown of thorn
You mock with laughter and scorn;
My failing is grave, I have sinned,
For I have loved.
My heart I opened, my arms lent
For you to rest your burden:
I became a Pariah, the untouchable one
Used and discarded:
Yet I resurrect for your deliverance.