Bismillah Hir Rahman Ir Raheem
Peace and blessings be upon you all
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
Sure, I have a body that feels, limbs that move, nose that smells, heart that feels, mind that thinks
But does that mean I’m strong? Does that mean I’m human? I’m perfect?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
While I question whether I’m human or not, and the world has forgotten to ask themselves that question
When you can’t make sure your neighbors are safe, what are you?
Neighbors which include my neighbor; occupied Jammu & Kashmir
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
While atrocities are being committed inside my neighbor’s home beyond the line of control
Innocents beaten, leaders and youth arrested, children shot with pellet guns, women raped and murdered
So much pain I try to feel, but I’ll never have my skin torn apart, heart pulled out of my chest unless I’m living in my neighbor’s house
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
When a curfew has been put in my neighbor, Kashmir’s, home for almost a month
Shops closed, mosques barred, communications blocked
Is it worse knowing your neighbor’s in pain, or is it worse that you can’t see how worse it has become?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
While every moment, something even terrible has happened in my neighbor’s home
Are they even at home? Are their children fed? Have they all had a good night’s sleep?
How can I know? What could I possibly do?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
My Prime Minister shouts out in the mike and has been fighting everyday trying to save them
He’s reached out to the UN and many leaders to help him save my neighbor
But people are people. Everyone always has their hidden benefits they wish to gain
What does a few million lives matter?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
When our Muslim leaders, apart from a few, are reluctant to raise their voices in support of their people
When UAE gives the Indian PM Narendra Modi their Highest Civilian Award for forgoing a massacre of their people
Is it just me, or is the dictionary scratching its head as well, wondering what the definition of peace is?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
Sure I can sign petitions, donate money to causes, share a few posts on social media, speak a bit about the plight of my neighbor
But what good will that do?
My leaders shout through mikes everyday!
They plead for aid everyday!
They show the true image of Indian democracy, PM Modi & BJP everday!
I only have the power of a grape as compared to their power but what avail is it to them?
My neighbor is still being beaten, leaders and youth are still being arrested, women are still being raped and murdered
What could I do that they couldn’t do?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
I’ll raise my voice, I’ll speak up with the voices of my people
Will those who need to hear me listen?
Is there another way to make this all over?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
I can’t stop war when it knocks on my doorstep, and as I open there stands a postman with boxes stuffed with radiation.
I’m not a shield that can save my people and my neighbor
I’ll die the moment I cross the line of control, attempting to rescue my neighbor
Is it worse to sit here idle, or to die without it benefiting my neighbor?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?I am powerless, I am helpless
But my faith tells me to stop evil by force
If not, then by voice,
If not, then believe it is wrong, but that is the WEAKEST ACT OF FAITH!
I raise my voice but it is loud enough? Can it be louder?
Do i have strength I don’t know of, because I’m ignoring it?
Am I deliberately avoiding my responsibility? Or am I destined to watch the world tear itself apart?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
While humanitarian crisises reign in Palestine, Yemen, Burma, China and many more
What can I do to save them?
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
I’m studying to become a doctor
But if I’m in the field, I will only try to shrink the number of wounded and killed, not stop it from happening in the first place
What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?
Other than watch
And hear an inaudible goodbye
And pray my Rabb forgives us
And yet, have undying hope in Him
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
This work of mine is written to spread awareness of the atrocities occuring in Indian Occupied Kashmir. In case you don’t know what’s going on there, I have given you the relevant information in my poem for you to understand.I don’t expect compliments for my writing. I expect you to be aware of a reality that is being distorted by India. People are being tortured and their lives taken. Pick your side.
I also wrote it to show my helplessness in such a situation as we tend to feel in similar situations all over the world. May we protect humanity from its doom.
May Allah protect humanity from its doom.
Ameen
Here’s a song expressing their plight:
6 replies on “BUBBLE 32 – WHAT CAN I, AN ORDINARY 20-YEAR-OLD, DO?”
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Firstly, I want to thank you for spreading this awareness, I almost cried at how similarly I would be in that situation. Although, even now I feel as if I am ingesting all of the pain and cruelty of the world with no way in knowing how to make it any better.
All I can say is you’ve expressed it beautifully and I sincerely believe that you’re writing can change the world. Please continue writing, one day it will make the difference. It will create more change than any prayer, and I mean that in the most respectful way because your words feel like a prayer with passion as the vehicle.
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Oh my god, Nahlabels, I am so truly touched by reading your comment. Thank you!! I’m filled with joy! It means so much to me. Thank you so much for your encouragement; this is all I wanted to achieve by writing, let it make a difference and change.
This experience of being stuck with all the pain and cruelty can be experienced by alot of us who can only watch at the moment. I surely will continue writing & I hope my writing is a strong weapon against cruelty
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Thank you for linking my blog π
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Itβs shatters my heart to see the mothers, and children of Kashmir. May Allah give them peace and victory. Allah se dua hai ke unke haq mein jo se behtar ho jald az jald kar de.
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Ameen Sum Ameen. Ya Rab ul Alamin
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