THE SILENT MOTHER

The Silent Mother – Poem on Country

Moghuls invaded me, looted

And plundered my riches

I quietly pacified myself

That it was my bad karma;

 

I was silent.

 

Then came the British crown

In the garb of East India Co.

And outraged me,

Shackled me in bondage;

 

I was silent.

 

Centuries passed by me

I gave birth to a messiah

And to a social movement

I fought slavery’s fetters.

 

I was silent.

 

Sons of my womb gave solace,

I once again yearned to be

Sujalam, suphalam,

And sasya shyamalam.

 

I was silent.

 

My village was green, my river pure,

My sky was blue and my sons true;

Weekly fairs were my malls,

Street plays my movieplexes;

 

I was silent.

 

My crown, paradise on earth,

Victim of neighbour’s evil eye;

Neighbour shouted, “It’s mine”,

Born of my womb, I can’t let go;

 

I was silent.

 

Alas! Mine was an illusion

Little did I realise that

Alien tyrants are replaced

By tyrants born of my womb;

 

I was silent.

 

The social movement turned

A quest for power for a few

And my offsprings called it a

Sovereign people’s democracy;

 

I was silent.

 

My children were divided by

Language, religion and caste

My farmer sons tilled and fed

Went hungry and languished;

 

I was silent.

 

Power got to head, feet not grounded

My sons severed cords with citizens

Neglected farmers, brought machines

Myopic tyrants, my so-called sons;

 

I was silent.

 

Snatched fundamental rights

Plundered my heart and soul

Rendered hopeless the helpless

Forlorn i am and curse my womb;

 

I was silent.

 

Robin Hood robbed rich to pay poor

My progeny robbed poor to pay rich

Tillers weep, die by the thousands

There isn’t one son to lessen grief;

 

I was silent.

 

Aliens left, tyrants of my womb rule;

Are they to rule, are they to serve?

Slaved aliens then, slave natives now

Know not I, how long is my slavery;

 

I was silent.

 

Easy to identify and easy to expel

Tyrants from shores far and beyond;

Born of my womb, born of my blood

How’ll these tyrants be driven away?

 

Must I continue silence?

***

By: Shyam sundar bulusu