Leave Him, He is a Poet, not a Terrorist

(For Durga and Gaman)

You found an orchard for me

And brought sheep to graze in laze

They gaze in wonder who size

Dreams in words.

Amongst the woods you sang

The disembodied songs of separation

Which I translated into

Rainbows and tears.

They say one should not make

Words that pierce into the hearts

And brains of people for the fear

Of them turning the land red and white.

They say one should not sing songs

Of woes borne by them since eons

For each song might sire

Thousands like them.

They say words are bullets, swords

And they could slit the throats of power

But in fact they are just distant bleating of a pack

And a lonely lover’s sobs.

I was caught by Them, the powers that are

And was convicted for my words

I gave them a garland of brains

Seared by the goddess who begot me and my dreams.

That’s why the judge finally said:

Leave him, he is just a poet not a terrorist.