Not any more.....

I dont have words to reflect on what happened in Mumbai in the past one week and what is happening thereafter. So, I choose to share with my readers a hard-hitting poem, "Is Baar Nahin", written by poet Prasoon Joshi, published in rediff.com. Please pay attention to the words and try to ponder over them because as Indians, we can no longer afford to be insulated to the bloodshed and grief pouring out around us. English translation is given along with it.

Is baar nahin,
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas
apni kharonch le kar aayegi,
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga,
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin
(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow. Not this time.)

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga,
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga, utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin
(This time when I see pain on faces, I will not sing the song that eases pain, I will let the pain seep in, deep. Not this time.)

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga,
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey,
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo, main dawa lagata hoon,
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin
(This time I won't apply any balm, Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes and turn your head While I gingerly apply medicine, I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds. Not this time.)

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga, chatpatahat dekhoonga,
Nahin daudoonga uljhee dor lapetney,
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin
(This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness, I will not run to solve the problems I will let them become complicated. Not this time.)

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat,
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki,
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main, tedhey medhey raston pe,
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon,
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin
(This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty, I will not make a new beginning Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job. I will not let life easily return to normalcy. I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths. I will not let the blood on the walls dry out Nor will I let its colour fade away This time I won't let it become so helpless That you can't tell blood from paan-spit. Not this time.)

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai,
Gaur se Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley, Aur uskey baad hausley,
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai.
(This time the wounds need to be watched Carefully For a long time, Some decisions are needed And then some brave moves to be made. We have to begin somewhere. This time this is what I have resolved)

... Prasoon Joshi