Libels Of A War Poem by Akhtar Jawad
Libels Of A War
How long, I don't know how long
the bare footed boy
in a dirty and torn shirt
a dirty big bag on his shoulders,
who leaves his bed with the call of dawn prayers
and goes to dirty streets,
where there is a plateau of rotten garbage
a symbol of efficiency of the government.
He passes sometime there and collects
empty packets and empty bottles,
and if he is lucky and he collects these valuables,
by lunch time at noon,
to sell it and to earn a little money
to purchase a bread and some curry.
Till then he remains hungry.
Failing to find garbage that may be sold,
He goes to the residential areas,
knocking the doors,
and when asked as to who is there,
he replies in a question
do you have a bread,
when told, no,
he says rather commands,
"Give me Rs.10."
A libel of not having cooked breads yet.
Though he was born in Pakistan
But he is son of an Afghan immigrant.
He took shelter in Pakistan,
During Afghan War,
in that Soviet Union was disintegrated.
How long, I don't know how long
Afghanistan along with Pakistan
will pay the libels of the war.
How long, I don't know how long
Pakistan will remain a victim of terror.
I am surprised,
did the weapons left by Soviet soldiers,
haven't exhausted yet.
If not so where from the terrorists,
the fighters of freedom during Afghan War,
get most modern weapons,
and who is financing them?
How long, I don't know how long
It will continue.
The common man is the worst sufferer and the children are the most common ones. The govt machinery does its bit and the right thinking people voice their concerns with no substantial results. Borders are porous, weapons are provided by sponsors (a lone man with a stolen AK 47 cannot go very far) with barbaric designs in the name of misplaced notions of religion or regional hegemony. An attack on school children does not bring glory to anyone. Thanks for sharing some common global concerns.
Eh, you go from an Afghan urchin, for whom a crumb of bread is dearest, to the intricacies of international weaponry that kills and kills. Gruesome our world is. Thanks for this brilliant portrayal.
Wars have always been tragic and their effects are long lasting. It was my country that brought war to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was my country that left unknown amounts of weaponry (and a power vacuum) behind. It is my country that arms rebels (on both sides!) It is my country that arms terrorist states such as Saudi Arabia. But my country does nothing to help the victims of its atrocities and war crimes. Please know that is my government and not the will of the majority of my country's citizens.
This is very thought provoking that imagery talks about such a bare footed boy who collects empty packets and bottles in streets. War in life and country gives pain and diverse picture. So sad such incidence is. This tears the heart. Very amazingly you have presented this stunning poem....10
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/23/2024 8:23:52 PM # 1.0.0.1119
A great poem, libels of a war nicely painted.