Context
Blankly staring out of the window with music playing on my laptop in the background, I take another slurp of chai. I can't help but wonder why the world is in such a shitty state.
This has been happening for the past few weeks. (Part of) Addison Crump's essay does a good job of explaining my state of mind.1
The military's suppression in Pakistan. Student protests in India. New immigration rules in the US. The rise of the right wing in Germany. Protests in France, Spain, Kazakhstan, Portugal. Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen. The genocide in Palestine.
I wanted an outlet for what was broiling inside me. So I wrote a nazm (or poem), my first ever complete nazm.
Mein haar raha hoonJaisay jaisay jaan raha hoon
I'm loosing,The more I'm learning
Iqtasadiat ki iss jung meinGadagar ki siskiaan sun raha hoon
In this war of personal interests,I'm hearing the sobs of the helpless
Zulm o barbariat kay natak koZanjeeroon mein jakra hua seh raha hoon
This theater of cruelty,I'm enduring in chains
Awaaz uthanay waloon ka garaybaanAskariyat kay haathoon chaak hota dekh raha hoon
The collars of those speaking up,I'm watching being torn by military hands
Haqeeqat jaan-nay kay bawajoodQadam say qadam milanay say kaamp raha hoon
Despite knowing the truth,I'm trembling to walk beside them
Apni hee cheekhoon ko sun karAndar hee andar damm tor raha hoon
Listening to my own screams,I'm suffocating inside
Mein haar raha hoon aurAhista ahista emaan kho raha hoon
I'm loosing and,Slowly losing faith