Monday 6 March, 2023

Colour me right (written on 2 March 2018)

(my poem written on 2 March 2018 was not uploaded here... better late than never)

 

Colour me now

But colour me right

Not as a mix

Each clear in sight…

 

Clear in sight

Distinct and distinguished

Not as a smear

Where colour is extinguished…

 

Colours extinguished

Turn into an obscure shade

Diversity is felled

When unity is a cutting blade…

 

Blade cuts to divide

But unity tends to expedite loss

Assorted strands ripped

togetherness goes for a toss…

 

The dance of togetherness

Needs different types of moves

For it is only variety

That makes an interesting groove…

 

The groove of merger

For different parts, is a bane

Insistence on uniformity

Forces individualities to wane…

 

None should wane

Each should be in clear sight

Colour me now

But please colour me right!

 

- Pravin K Sabnis

 

Monday 5 July, 2021

We killed an old man

 Why the fury? Why so much ire?

for someone who refused to retire

He refused to stop his proactive plan

that's why we killed this stupid old man!

 

He refused to ignore like so many do

he taught others to ask questions too

To halt our progress, he thought he can

but our juggernaut will crush all such men!

 

Our development express refuses to stop

we will do everything to rise over and hop

We will jump over every stakeholder’s plan

we will break down resolve of such old men!

 

He wanted to save people as if his own

He taught them the right to voice and tone

But we know how to halt his every fan

by confining behind bars, their old man!

 

Call them anti-national to dump in jail

apply law that the Raj used to deny bail

Our gullible choir will join and raise cain

as we stifle and defeat their old guy main!

 

Our men seating in judgement seat

are blind to what lies at Truth’s feet

Mere accusation is enough to condemn

each and every one, young and old men!

 

The younger lot has a lesson to learn

By the way we prolong, twist and turn

It is easy with a fake nationalist plan

History is full of felling of such old men!

 

Now for the others we hold behind bars

more voices may say that we went too far

We may have to concede they are no fiends

we tarnished them, like we did that old man!

 

Watch the few that protest and cry

ensure the emotions recede and dry

Pull out the ones who together with him sang

they may undo the death of that bloody old man!

- Pravin K. Sabnis, 5 July 2021

(Indian tribal rights activist Stan Swamy died of a cardiac arrest today. The 84 year old Jesuit priest, suffered from Parkinson's disease, was consistently denied bail & moved to a private hospital in May after he tested positive for Covid. The oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India, he was arrested in October 2020, among 15 renowned activists, academics & lawyers, who were charged under a draconian anti-terror law. Swamy repeatedly denied the charges, saying he was being targeted for his work related to the caste and land struggles of tribals in Jharkhand state. At the time of arrest, his health was waning. But his bail appeal on medical grounds was rejected & National Investigative Agency (NIA) continued to oppose his release. In the eight months he spent in Mumbai's Tajola jail, his health declined)

Monday 7 September, 2020

rise (written on 29 aug 2020)

 

rise

if we do not

trapped will be thought

battle lost before it is fought

 

rise

if we do not

time is a diminishing dot

ones who don’t move will rot

 

rise

if we do not

worse will be wrought

wounds festering under the clot

 

rise

if we do not

one by one will be caught

to be tried for an imagined blot

 

rise

if we do not

humanity will go to nought

as humans burn in the hate-pot

 

so rise

do what we did not

break the chains & step out

opening up every closed spout

 

so rise

do what we did not

pursue the positive thought

together to sing, dance and shout

 

so rise

do what we did not

stand up, march or squat

synergise the simmering lot

 

so rise

do what we did not

seek what we always sought

peace that only justice brings about

 

-  Pravin Sabnis 29 August 2020 -

Friday 5 June, 2020

Let me breathe

written 3 June 2020

Eyes full of mist
Cuffs on my wrist
Lungs set to collapse
For free air as I gasp
These aches and sores
Have happened before
Stop crushing me underneath
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

Mouth on fire
Life on the wire
When the food I did find
Did not know of cruel mind
That gives an innocent pain
Laying death traps insane
For my baby in my sheath
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

Brutes on the beat
Drag me by my feet
Violate my being
Treat as a plaything
When they are brought to book
I am blamed for being lure hook
The weariness of being aggrieved
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

Why do you hit
For every little bit
Drew water for my thirst
Can’t fathom your outburst
Who decided that you are dear?
Who decided that I am impure?
My living you turn into grief
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

You treat me as soil
While enjoying my toil
I ensure your comfort
By cleaning your dirt
But when I was in need
You refused to pay heed
The road seems endless beneath
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

Sometimes you pinch
Sometimes you lynch
If not for sickly honour
You will find a rumour
You have hit where you could
Yet stake claim on victimhood
Stop lying through your teeth
Let me breathe… Let me breathe…

In a world vindictive
Empathy is selective
Go beyond choosy pity
Reclaim human personality
Throw away all excuses lame
We are all born one and same
Don’t bury humanity under the hate wreath
Let everyone breathe… Let everyone breathe

- Pravin Sabnis
3 June 2020

Monday 16 March, 2020

VOID (29 July 2019)

(a poem written on 29 July 2019)

Void
The empty chair
The missing stare
So full of care...

Void
The bare bed
Words unsaid
Heart full of lead…

Void
The still cane
A closed pane
Weeping rain…

Void
Absent look
Quietened nook
Unopened book…

Void
A closed sill
The numb feel
House gone still…

Void
Poignant space
Reminiscences trace
The bond of grace…

Void
Memory pond
Forever fond
Immortal bond…

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Troll (20 Jan 2020)


Mirror on wall, mirror on wall
Watch out who is on virtual call
It starts with an indignant scroll
Then released is the vicious troll!

Mirror on ceiling, mirror on ceiling
Watch out who strangled feeling
Hurling abuse, going for the killing
The latest sin of inhuman trolling!

Mirror on floor, mirror on floor
Watch out who steps to score
A closed mind, a locked-up door
Trolls kick the wound till sore!

Mirror on screen, mirror on screen
Watch out for who just walked in
Masks slip and cover gets thin
Trolls scream in ravenous din!

Mirror in mind, mirror in mind
Watch out for who you find
Friends have put fiends behind
Trolls go distant from mankind!

Mirror immortal, mirror immortal
Watch out for malice on the portal
Trolls have chosen a blood thirsty ideal
A two-edged sword, killer and suicidal
Trolling is sadly both: killer and suicidal!

~ Pravin K. Sabnis
20 Jan 2020

Blood on my hand (6 Jan 2020)



Not just the brutal goons
I have blood on my hand...
I had asked for the strike
now they bloodied our land!

I stood safe on the shore
shouting till it hurt my gland...
When Blue Ocean turned Red
hues of hurt stained the sand!

I ignored that in a bull fight
taking sides may seem grand...
But not just the raging bull
gored oft are the cheering band!

Stoking fires is easily done
difficult it is to be manned...
It may seem a harmless sport
but blaze will get out of hand!

We must know the fallout
of taking an extreme stand…
Humanism, justice and peace
should be keys to every demand!

When I ask for the strike
they will drench again our land...
Not just the brutal goons
I will have blood on my hand!
I will have blood on my hand!!

~ Pravin K. Sabnis
6 Jan 2020