Tomorrow Poem by Amjad Islam Amjad

Half a century on
my home and habitat
reduced to dust by
blind oppression.

My children, my people,
enmeshed in dreams
and lured by oases,
get decimated.

All round is a sea of blood,
Everyone target of censure,
Each lane slaughter house,

The world, professed
guardian of universal
brotherhood, watches
unmoved, silent
our extermination.

Oppressors' shadows
are ever-lengthening,
earth blood-splattered

But as long as flames
fled with martyrs' blood
keep on burning
heart is assured,
even in extremes of pain,
day follows dark night

[Translated by Prakash Chander]