How Long Poem by Muhammad Shanazar

How long we shall go on
Increasing the rows of graves,
How long we shall go on
Extending boundaries of the graveyards,
How long we shall go on
Lengthening the list of martyrs,
How long we shall go on
Starving our kids against the gadgets of war,
How long we shall go on
Lamenting on our dear ones,
How long we shall go on
Burning valleys and villages,
How long we shall go on
Carrying on the backs bodies of fellow beings,
How long we shall go on
Increasing the queues of orphans and widows,
How long ambulances will hoot on the highways,
For the reason you mind doesn’t match mine,
For the reason your eyes don’t see as mine do,
For the reason I have grown the beard long
And you face is close-shaved,
For the reason your skin is white and mine is black,
For the reason you go to the temples, and churches
And I bow before God in the mosques,
For the reason you wear tight jeans
And I loose shalwar and qameez,
For the reason I follow some principles of legitimacy
And you move around unrestrained.


O! My enemy though I am not coward,
I have the ability to fight against you
As long as you wish,
I have the strength to contest you
With the double force of blows,
Yet I shall not wrangle against you,
I here throw my weapons, I open
My arms to embrace you, though it falls
Upon my ego very cumbersome,
I care least you will perforate my chest.

O! My enemy, Just be patient,
Let me allow and get allowed to breathe
Under the blue sky, upon the fair Earth,
We both are destined to die, sooner later,
But with natural death by our own accord,
So don’t point your gun at me,
Or sharp your spear or knife
Or attack with dagger or drone to kill me,
Which will be done naturally.

O! My enemy henceforth I shall call you my brother
Be heedful! We are the children
Of the same mother, of the same father,
Similar hearts and similar brains we have,
And similar blood. O! My brother.

Muhammad Shanazar