Majrooh’s Lament (To His Cross-border Cousins)

What greater frenzy will you exemplify?
In angst we rent our garments four.

The shattered heart cries for repair;
Blood our only raiment.

Our zest in springtide excelled yours.
With friends we kept faith,
With grace we endured foe’s encomiums.

We then had dreams bigger than yours;
We now have regrets deeper than yours.

Seize every candle by the flame
In your quest for the zenith of dreams.

We hold safe the burns and blisters
We suffered in symposiums galore.

As we faced our assassins,
You looked on from afar.
Our losses no match for yours.


(The Cross-border Response)

Yours was detention ephemeral, Majrooh,
Here every lane, every alley is prison eternal.


K. B. (Bush) Gulati