five years since…

As again, am compelled to reproduce Baithak‘s evocative lines published on September 13, 2006.

five years since
the exclamations came down
and the survivors made peacethe innocent continue
to suffer from ripple lashes

the evil twins throw barbs
milk the towers, we survive, pay
pray and whine – lucky we are
removing shoes, emptying pockets

millions fare worse
death, poverty – living misery
while culprits debate for ever
surveys, polls support
six billion views

our world has changed
…there is more suspicion
fear, mistrust – phobias rule
killings and bombings galore
in the name of righteousness
and we’re ever more suspicious
of neighbours, the unabated legacy
of the exclamation’s dissolution

The trigger for Baithak’s verse was Billy Collins‘ moving poem – The Names – and its concluding lines:

So many names,

there is barely room

on the walls of the
heart.

Please also read some more names, Billy

Photo credit here