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| To the majestic darkness of the towering mountains PC: Kotresh H R |
To the darkness*....
To the dusty darkness of the countryside, where
Mothers saddened by the pains of separation,
Curse their fate for being born into poverty and
Lack of opportunity that drove their children away.
To the haunting darkness of secluded valleys,
Where girls widowed by the tyranny of time,
Trust darkness alone with all their emotions
Since it blames not the living for the dead.
To the rich darkness of lonely nights, where
Virgins intoxicated by the touch of first love,
Bury the shy of daylight to discover themselves,
Knit dreams, fantasize & let reason to the winds!
To the dim darkness of metro underbellies, where
Idealists disillusioned by the refusal for reforms,
Contemplate the relevance of adhering to ideals
In a despotic system that rewards the miscreants.
To the brilliant darkness of the citadels of wisdom,
Where poets of progress decry darkness so as to
Elevate light to Utopian heights, create metaphors
And distance themselves from undeniable dark truths.
To the melancholy darkness of tangled streets,
Where Youths rendered rebellious by stark injustice
Raise their voice in protest against the opaque
Only to be silenced deep within their own darkness.
To the majestic darkness of the towering mountains,
Where travelers caught off guard on any dark night
Confess all their deep secrets and vulnerabilities to
Strangers who in the dark gain a mystic intimacy.
To the betraying darkness of broken promises,
Where theists and atheists alike bewildered by life
Beyond the reach of either reason or rationality
Seek solace in a meaningless chaotic universe.
To the dusty darkness of the countryside, where
Mothers saddened by the pains of separation,
Curse their fate for being born into poverty and
Lack of opportunity that drove their children away.
To the haunting darkness of secluded valleys,
Where girls widowed by the tyranny of time,
Trust darkness alone with all their emotions
Since it blames not the living for the dead.
To the rich darkness of lonely nights, where
Virgins intoxicated by the touch of first love,
Bury the shy of daylight to discover themselves,
Knit dreams, fantasize & let reason to the winds!
To the dim darkness of metro underbellies, where
Idealists disillusioned by the refusal for reforms,
Contemplate the relevance of adhering to ideals
In a despotic system that rewards the miscreants.
To the brilliant darkness of the citadels of wisdom,
Where poets of progress decry darkness so as to
Elevate light to Utopian heights, create metaphors
And distance themselves from undeniable dark truths.
To the melancholy darkness of tangled streets,
Where Youths rendered rebellious by stark injustice
Raise their voice in protest against the opaque
Only to be silenced deep within their own darkness.
To the majestic darkness of the towering mountains,
Where travelers caught off guard on any dark night
Confess all their deep secrets and vulnerabilities to
Strangers who in the dark gain a mystic intimacy.
To the betraying darkness of broken promises,
Where theists and atheists alike bewildered by life
Beyond the reach of either reason or rationality
Seek solace in a meaningless chaotic universe.
* Inspired by Faiz Ahmed Faiz's incomplete poem 'Intisaab' (Dedication), and Rekha Bharadwaj's soulful rendition of a part of it as 'Aaj ke naam' for the movie 'Haider'
