When.I.Came.Here Poem by Mohammad Younus

I came to this world at that time -
When Cow was divided into two parts,
When Water lillies bloomed in deserts,
When Cacti grew in cold regions -
When Bharat was divided into two parts,
Which since then are at logger heads,
Fighting with each other claiming our land

I came to this world at that time,
When the tallest son married off his widow mother,
When, the tallest leader betrayed his people,
When his people were transferred to another country -
Along with their motherland,
Denying them the right to self- determination,
Promising them milk and honey from gods and goddesses

If you recall, the Veth, a pristine clear river,
Passed then through this valley,
That kissed the green fields and orchards,
Where now army bunkers are planted,
Much water has flown since down the river,
Now, the river is totally unclean andpolluted,
The human and animal carcases sail on it's surface,
It's water is not pristine and clean any more,
The river is stuck between its beds like a dirty gutter

Everything has come to a standstill,
Nothing is moving,
Even the hands of the clock have stopped moving,
Cool breezes have stoppedblowing,
Chinar trees are not spreading their leafaged boughs,
Birds perched on the boughs are not chirping,
Smile is not flashing on any one's face -
Souls are not feeling pleasure;
Spirit is not dancing in ecstasy -
Eh! I, too, am staying paralysed here.

Mykoul

(Mother=Kashmir)