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When the flags of freedom fly
They surely must evoke
Visions of that valiant tribe
Who fought to break the yoke.
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When the songs of freedom sound
They surely call to mind
Thorns they took away with them
The flowers they left behind.
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We cannot see the flowers now
Yet surely, they have grown
Perhaps they lie hidden behind,
The weeds that we have sown.
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Roy shifted his briefcase from one hand to the other as he approached his house in the less-peopled recesses of Sanctuary City. He had consciously bought an outskirts house because it was within walking distance from his office.
Besides, there was the added advantage of getting a large house at a low price. Yet another convenience was that he could walk back from his office for lunch at home. He had never liked taking a tiffin box to the office.
One day a sparrow came, alighted on my balcony railing
I, behind stirring curtains, saw her settle down, was glad
That of all the houses standing together, she chose mine.
To rest awhile, and with darting eyes take a second wind.
She saw me, and I knew she would take wing if I blinked
Two children fought hard on a street
Neither would give up, beat a retreat
I intervened, and gave one my hand
Other went down, soon bit the sand
Gave other hand to wipe those eyes
Doled false hopes, soothed with lies.
God saw it all, sent seraphs with wands
They became swords, cut off my hands
i walked my land in wonder,
and all along the way,
i saw a thousand faces
or more, throughout the day
i prayed to God in a hundred
temples, mosque and church
a dozen tongues did greet me
and asked me what i search
Why is our earth getting so war-ridden?
Isn’t there any answer out there hidden?
But we keep on asking again and again
Like some parrot that has gone insane,
Yet knows what sought is outside cage.
So do we, if we could but turn the page.
Some think it lies in missiles and drones
In rockets and bombs, exploded phones
Tania had always been at the top of her class, even after shifting from a neutral system of grades to an aggressive one of ranks. In the new arena, a few girls jousted bitterly every year for the pinnacle with ill-concealed ferocity that crackled with venom and was spat out sporadically in dour confrontation.
This year, Tania had set a taut mouth to the task, juggling with both inspired and slog work. Despite a slightly distressed demeanour after the math test, she looked smug enough for the top spot.
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