THE SEED OF VIOLENCE

   Cries of anger and of pain
As images of a burning train
Like a branding iron hot
Seared hatred in the brain

A burning woman, sari aflame
Clutching her child without a name
Mouth open in horror and fear
For her death whom do you blame?

Burning embers far and wide
Carried forward on hatred's tide
Setting afire innocent homes
For those inside, no place to hide

Other women in different garb
Impaled on vengeance's barb
Mouth open in horror and fear
No protection far and near

An innocent life taken in vain
Cannot innocent life avenge
While culprits hide like cowards
This is barbarism and not revenge

Wild fire now burns the land
Flames that boil the blood
A torch now in a brainless hand
Who'll stem this vengeful flood?

Politics the hot whirlwind
Emanating from barren souls
Laying waste a land of peace
Now inhabited by vengeful ghouls

Can't you see it all you fools
'Tis what our enemies seek
That we hate and kill each other
And burning bodies reek

Stop this now, stop it please
Do not vengeance breed
For somewhere in a quaking soul
It plants a violent seed

The cycle will never end
Like weed upon this soil
Destroy the very garden
We have built with our toil.

~Siddharth Sanyal~

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