by : EnnaDa- Kiruthika Thusyanthan
when I did not have legs to run
I had hands that could reach
when my arms could not reach
I got around on my feet
when my mouth could not speak
I had eyes that could see
when my eyes could not see
I had a throat that could scream
when my heart failed to beat
with my veins left to bleed
one thing remained,
I still had a dream
my blinded eyes saw, our flag wave above trees
my deafened ears heard, our children laugh as much as they please
my broken heart felt, our land welcome me
to become a part of her soil, water, and breeze
I never once saw my father, I lost my mother at three
was left with a small but loving family
just a little brother, big sister, and me
and I’ve always been told that forever we’ll be
together.
I thought I’ve lost it all, orphaned and alone
paralyzed and helpless, and to return to, no home
I thought this was it, thought everything was gone
If I could not be here as a thamizhan, where else would I belong?
I will go ON, but not ALONG
with a government so racist, just face it
destroy everything of ours just so they could replace it
with all of theirs and themselves.
That night before my eyes shut,
I had a strong feeling churn in my gut
and without my ears I heard it
many voices echoed through my head..
all of them comfortingly said,
“ you are not orphaned, my people.
you are not homeless. today is your end..
just close your eyes to rest,
we were too late im sorry, we failed to try our best
but from this moment on, I promise you we’ll handle it.
the land that you die on,
that soil and dirt is your home
I know it may seem like your everything is gone
but You are Not alone.
Close your eyes and look around
we’re here, we’re still your family
around the world we’re still fighting for you restlessly
we’ll never bow our heads to the enemy
because that land you die on, is home for both you and me
and until we set our homeland free
there is no such thing as losing everything.
close your eyes to rest my family..
oneday we’ll be visiting.
you’ll share your stories, and I’ll share mine
I still don’t know when it’ll be, what day or time..
maybe I’ll be up there with you after victory,
or maybe I’ll join you early and become a part of history
and together we’ll watch our land be set free.
you are not a alone, we are all your family
just close your eyes and rest, let go of your body peacefully
hold on to just one thing, that One Dream to be Free.
and have hope,
that one day our children will laugh n play together in harmony”
And then the voice slowly faded off,
the pain that ached n burned through my body stopped
I had family, I had a home. that thought alone was enough.
Closing my eyes, my thoughts drifted off
to a place where our future children laughed and played
with honking cars and bicycles passing constantly
church and temple ceremonies choired melodically
markets were filled with lush fruits vegetables, n fresh meat
and love conquered hatred in the end you see,
because the Love for our land, set our people free
and in this place it was okay to be,
a PROUD THAMIZHAN.
Today I’ll die, but tomorrow I’ll awaken
once freedom finds my only homeland.
Tags: Poetry/Art
