Thursday, September 06, 2007

Screaming Banshee

By Gaurav Parab

A hundred questions running through my head,
A thousand bombs every day, a million dead.
Would it be wrong to call his work slipshod?
I would like to know, where is my god?

I last felt him that day on the beach,
As I looked up at the sky I heard him preach.
I heard the truth about everyone around me,
I also heard the scream of a banshee.

The bleeding man under that the truck did not pray?
The Darfur girl starved because she was not in Norway?
Why does he hide behind that extravagant façade?
Can anyone see him, can anyone see my god?

All that goes wrong is someone else’s shit,
All that goes right is his lovely gift,
I searched Benares, Tel Aviv and Riyadh.
Where do you live, where are you my god?

Was he here when she was saved ten years ago?
But that young man died, why did he let him go?
He is within each one of us, they yell and claim.
Don’t see him in me- all I see is evil and shame.

Did he leave this place a long time ago?
Was he ever here, I don’t think I know.
Did I just make him up because I could not explain?
Who creates my joy, who give me pain?

If you are on a vacation, about time you came back,
My world is burning, everyone’s faith is under attack.
Is this one of your long morality games?
Not funny anymore, time you doused the flames.

Show me a sign if you care and can,
Like they say you did when time began.
As I struggle between death and a reason to remain,
God, I pray you keep your part of our bargain.

I think you should come back; we’ll never be the same.
Or admit you are gone, so I can stop killing in your name.


13 comments:

Jui Chitre Deshmukh said...

the best line for me was 'Did I just make him up because I could not explain?'..:)at one point while reading the poem a chill ran down my spine .. vry well written..

Anonymous said...

You ought to quit IT and do something about this talent you have!

This deserves more than just the BB man..Awesome.

Thanks,
Meera

Anonymous said...

Hi Gaurav,

Wow…

These are the best:

I think you should come back; we’ll never be the same.

Or admit you are gone, so I can stop killing in your name.

We all pray the same….

Regards,

A S

Anonymous said...

Reminded me of the song ‘ krishna nee begane baro’ by the colonial cousins..

nice one…

Thanks and Regards,
Arvind

Anonymous said...

This is amazing…………… u rock buddyyy…!!

-Deepu

Anonymous said...

Awesome!!!! That’s the only word for it. I hope you publish it somewhere too, the reality of today’s world comes across exceptionally well here……Bravo!!!

-GD

Anonymous said...

Damn good! A lil pessimistic tho.. bt very well said J

- MK

Anonymous said...

Great as always

- Rohit

Anonymous said...

Good One.

-Yamini

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Everytime I go through your blog, I think I have read the best of your works; but everytime you continue to prove me wrong with your next post.
This one was absolutely brilliant. I have never read anything this amazing.
I just wonder what is going to come next...

ankit said...

Everytime I go through your blog, I think I have read the best of your works; but everytime you continue to prove me wrong with your next post.
This one was absolutely brilliant.
I just wonder what is coming next...

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE TERRYFYINGLY TRUE