Preferred Silence Poem by Ratnakar Rout

You blame me
As I do not venture
To raise voice against
Injustice, corruption and
Violation of human rights
Being a youth and a student.
You have expectations
At least the youths should react.

You would definitely appreciate my position
I am a citizen as you are
Of a developing nation
My roads are tricky
And future is uncertain
Amidst serious challenges
I need to survive with dignity
And encounter the social evils.

But the prejudice and nepotism
I find in all walks of life burn me within
At times though the mountain melts
The stupendous task ahead of us
Demands more dedication, patience and unity
There are golden rays in the eastern horizon
They appear from the womb of the darkness
You can see if you observe keenly
Getting disappointed at this juncture
Would mar all the efforts made so far.

Who does know?
Next moment things may change
I may not dwell on my emotions only
Snow may start falling
And eventually I may
Feel losing my spine.
Alike a feeble creature
Prefer to plunge into
Self-designed hibernation.
Like a naive tortoise
I would restrict me to my Shells
To shield emergence of new moon

You blame me for my preferred
Silence and inaction.
But for once only
Try to realize my despondency
That keeps me woefully busy
Searching tomorrows’ living through
Different uncertain engagements
Though a student and a youth
I am left to my destiny each day
And opt to live as such in apathy.