Ghost of democracy
(Elections, prospects and possibilities are being discussed��and Democracy is reflecting on its abuse�)

Greedy votes and their polity
arranged
in neat ballot boxes
of connivance
cried foul
for their faith
as they did
for the color
and
when all the excuses
ran out of their designs
a thirsty majority
diminished
the mother of all governance
to a ghost of democracy
that sang
conscientious hymns
of Ramdhun
on the sleeping bodies
of battered conscience
on these footpaths
of anarchy !

Uma Asopa
7April 2002
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Violent Verse

(Waves of communal frenzy alternating with spells of peace�.as people are trying to put together threads of their lives..a town struggles to regain its image�)


The silent streets
and deserted homes
wait for return
of a throbbing hub
and those
who lost their address
and names
in deafening thud
of fleeing life

The law of this land
busy in update
of numerical game
forgets to account
the wounds of reclusion
and as
jubilation for one
culminates in
decimation of the other;
determinant sword
of sectarian cult
inscribes
white and black words
of a violent verse.

They say
a good comes out of every bad
and given time
the bad will die a natural death
then long overdue
is redemption
of suffering human soul
But
this song of silence
betrays havoc
and air smells of impatience
once again
covered in sheets of pain
earth awaits
the balm of a soothing hand .

Uma Asopa
26April 2002
=========================================

Sermons of peace
(Talk of closure of relief camps fanning fears�and peace missions doing their own futile bit)

Save the sermons
for the day
when I am home
under a roof
I can call as mine
as of now,
I have no thoughts
but this day's turmoil
and
impending night's protection.

Save the sermons
for a time
when I earn my bread
and rest
with my creed
as of now,
I have no need
for the
peace marches
or blaring banners
of retribution.

Save the sermons
till
I understand
the dictates of history
or debates of future
as of now,
I have no memory
of the cause and effects
or
the principles of persecution.

Uma Asopa
28April 2002
=========================================