Undoubtedly Something Has Gone Wrong Poem by Ravikumar C.P.

(A tribute to the victims of Peshawar Massacre)

Hindi Poem by Prasoon Joshi
Translated by C.P. Ravikumar

When childhood hesitates to come into your arms,
Peeping out of a mother's womb, when life is too terrified to emerge,
Undoubtedly something has gone wrong.

When swords come down on flowers
When terror seeps into innocent eyes
Undoubtedly something has gone wrong.
When droplets of dew begin to run
not on a little inquisitive finger
but on the edge of a weapon,
When little feet must walk through fire,
Undoubtedly something has gone wrong.

When cackling is withheld in fear,
When babbling suddenly falls silent,
Undoubtedly something has gone wrong.
And not just a little.
Something has gone gravely wrong.

Or else, there would have been a downpour of tears.
An uncontrollable sobbing would have been heard from the heavens.
Human civilization would have hung its face in shame.
This is not the time for sorrow, but one for raising questions.
This is not the time for mourning, but one for contemplation.

Despite what has happened, if man is able to stand up straight
Undoubtedly something has gone wrong.