When Death
Stands a few steps away
Quite indifferently
Then,
Rock-steady like the Himalayas,
To live life
In all its festivity has an altogether
Different meaning.
When one end of
Each thread of breath
Is held by ruthless Death
It’s imperative then
To bind each heartthrob
Like a rhythm
With the melody of life
Tomorrow when we'll be here no longer
Our call
As an echo
Will live on
as a partner
In every joy and sorrow
Of life.
[A poem by Comrade Mahendra Singh translated from his collection of poems
Keemat Chukati Zindagi]
How long?
How many times?
How many Shekhars will
Embrace death by murder?
You who preach human rights,
You who preach democracy,
O legal experts,
Why are you silent?
Say something!
When you lament
The criminalisation of politics
In Parliament
In the presence of killers,
Forgetting all party differences,
All of you maintain
Silence on this question
Who will break this devastating silence
Of an impartial Speaker
And partisan leaders?
How long will the lone voice
Demanding punishment for the killers
Sound like a reed-whistle in the midst of drums?
How long will truth be servile,
A mistress of the majority
In the House of democracy?
2. 12. 97
(Written by Comrade Mahendra Singh on the occasion of a special debate in Parliament. Translated from his collection of poems Keemat Chukati Zindagi)