No Place Exists In The Universe By That Name Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
No Place Exists In The Universe By That Name
No place exists in the universe by that name
A little Chinese boy of seventeen
Jiang Jillian, he did sacrifice
His life for his dream cherished.
A bullet from an army gun pierced
His little heart, took his young life
The day after his seventeenth birthday.
His crime?
He stood for democracy,
What he believed was his right!
He fell to legalised terrorism
By the government machinery
He was one of the fourteen hundred odd
Young boys and girls died on the fateful day,
The third June Nineteen eightynine.
A drop in the ocean!
A mighty drop...
Liberated from the labyrinth of
Authoritarian autocracy
Called, look at the paradox,communism
By the People's Liberation Army-
army that liberates those in power
From the tearful voice of a few
Thousand young quivering lips.
Marx turned in his grave with eyes moist
And his heart bleeding red, I am sure.
Holocaust* repeated, Yet again.
The proud mother of young Jillian,
Ding Zilin, the Tiananmen Mother**
Tears dried, she does not cry anymore.
Her husband was committed to jail
Being Father of Jiang Jillian.
Anybody heard of Tiananmen Square?
Where on earth is it, by Mao Tse Tung?
No place in the universe by that name.***
*Reference to Nazi Germany. Holocaust in Greek, means "sacrifice by fire". The word is apt here, for "fire" it was, from guns.
** "Tiananmen Mother" is a movement of the relatives of the students who died in the Army firing of 03 June 1989.
***The Chinese Government even today refuses to acknowledge the massacre of 03 June 1989.
Aside:
I am carried away by Asterix comics, wherein, is said, the Gauls refused to acknowledge the existence of the place, Alesia, where Vercingetorix, the Gaulish chieftain surrendered before Caesar. Julius, that is. Pleaseread "Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield".
'Man Inhumanity To Man' is aptly portrayed in this poignant poem of yours. A sad truth that really touches the heart of the reader. Your words are indeed brave utterances set aside for honest reflection. Thanks for sharing, E S. Remain enriched.
Thank you so much the appreciation of my efforts to put my anxiety, my pain into words. obliged.
A powerful, perceptive, informative and heart rending write. An expose of the greatest ills of society....a.heinous crime that should be abhorred by humanity. To massacre people of tender age....the youth, who are considered the hope of tomorrow is beyond comprehension. I commend the great Poet for having the courage to write this poem. Brilliantly penned.
Hi Rose Marie, Thank you for your valuable time for reading this poem and recording your observations. Your words of appreciation make my day. Thank you for all the good words. Your words encourage me to write more. Thank you.
Reading this a chill runs down the spine... I was never aware of this story....thanks for sharing this well penned piece of history.10 +
Hi Ashika, Tiananmen massacre is a wound on the body democracy, still raw and bleeding. This terror perpetrated by the govt on the unarmed hapless little children, in the name of Communism. The so called Communist regime of China was scared by a few young students, so scared that they sent battle tanks to quell the campaign-campaign for democracy. The so called advocates of democracy, USA, India choose to ignore what happened to the movement.
Thank you for sharing. This is an amazing testament to an unbelievable atrocity. Excellent work. Many in the west have forgot but many still remember Tiananmen Square. I remember though I was only 9 or 10 when it happened- or maybe that is exactly why I remember. Keep telling the story- it must never be forgotten! I thank you for your bravery. The truth comes at a high price. I wrote a poem that you may relate to. it's called Number of Man (Webster's Ninth) .
Thank you dear poet, for visiting my page, reading this poem. This poem came from my heart, from the unending agony. Thank you for your appreciation.. obliged.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/11/2024 2:38:07 AM # 1.0.0.1119
An intense expression.
Thank you for the comments on the poem. And your appreciation of my effort to give expression to my pain.