Sunday, September 14, 2008

undead for eternity


a whole human-being becomes a mass of flesh scattered in all directions
a family man who was laughing with his children a while back
what became of those kids, they are nowhere to be seen
dead to the world is a much mis-used phrase
faceless terrorist is the one who is undead.
no reason to kill those who have had no connection with him
is the only motivation for him

addiction of killing will one day lead him to kill his own,
those who are bound by hatred for all humanity
,
seeds of which have been planted by no one knows whom.

search, seek, look out at each nook and every corner,
no one found it neither will you


redeeming the unsoul is a mighty task impossible even to contemplate
hope he stays undead for eternity with the images of the destruction
forever embedded in his mind re-playing each moment
a whole human-being becomes a mass of flesh scattered in all directions

*Update (15/09/2008): Read Annamari's post too, along with this...


42 comments:

Anonymous said...

..terrorism-a slur on humanity-
can only be condemned..thanks for sharing this..

Akshaya Kamalnath said...

Ya man..yesterday's blasts were terrible. There's a piece on that in my blog too but not poetry. Terrorism is about the worst nightmare India is facing right now.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Terrorrism is humanity's Grim Reaper. There is no justice nor sympathy when the Reaper swings into action. A dynamic poem!

Julie said...

As well as condeming terrorism, I try to understand the motivation. How did this person think this was a way of achieving his/her goal?

Lenore said...

it doesn't need to be edited; thanks for sharing this

Steve said...

disjouinted? Is that a word?

I can not possibly comprehend the fact that you have these sort of things happening all around you.

Take Care...........Please....

anthonynorth said...

I've touched this subject myself - why do they do it? What motivates them?

SandyCarlson said...

The "why" is the most painful of questions, I think. I am very sorry this happened. Your heart comes through this work and gives the experience to others. Thanks for your empathy and humanity.

sage said...

My thoughts are with you--I even heard about the bombings here (which is something when our news is mainly covering the hurricane and election rhetoric. I really liked these verses:

"hope he stays undead for eternity with the images of the destruction
forever embedded in his mind re-playing each moment
a whole human-being becomes a mass of flesh scattered in all directions"

Assuming he has (or is given) a conscience, that would be one of the best descriptions of hell I've seen, better than Dantes

Anonymous said...

Who plants this idea of hate, and what makes it thrive?

Anonymous said...

Such a poignant piece, Guatami. I will never be able to get my mind around terrorism. It is just too inhuman, too inhumane, to be performed by a human. You heart is in this piece and my heart breaks with yours.

Anonymous said...

Your words are so descriptive of the cruleties of man. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Such powerful words - all the moreso for not being "edited." Sometimes I think the only thing that has a hope of keeping us sane, even as we mourn events like this, is to try and remember that, even as the worst in humanity seems to be escalating, so is the good. There are some incredibly brave, generous and loving gestures going out into the in the world, as well. I hope some of these touch the people there who are suffering.
Take care!

Unknown said...

Hi,

we are all scared to death. But completely helpless. Can't we do anything, anything at all

-Usha

Kai said...

i enjoy!
how are you?

sgreerpitt said...

extraordinarily powerful, heartfelt words -- "undead for eternity with images of the destruction forever embedded..." that is indeed the curse we would wish upon the terrorist.

poefusion said...

It's always so surprising to me how someone, who doesn't know you, can hurt you. Terrorism is definitely a terrible thing. I wish people could just get along. I think four winds haiga said it best...Who plants this idea of hate, and what makes it thrive?

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Wow. What imagery and thoughts in here, G. Just... wow.

I love the idea of redeeming those with an unsoul.

You're onto some important thoughts here. Stay safe and keep fighting the good fight.

Raven said...

Such a painful poem. It is unfathomable to me how anyone can take lives - innocent or not. The worst thing to me in some ways is how the hate becomes contagious, how a few "undead souls" as you call them - can wreak such havoc on the peace of private souls and the peace of the world. I read about the bombings. Sheer insane depravity. It may not be much, but I send you a hug from my heart.

I posted something on September 11th that I wrote 7 years ago about terrorism and love. Maybe it would be of interest.

gP said...

//search, seek, look out at each nook and every corner,
no one found it neither will you//
the truest reason for not doing what they are determined to do. bt they dont realize because they are blinded.

Regina said...

Very powerful, Gautami- your first few lines bring it all home- family man, laughing, children... why does it have to end this way?

cyclopseven said...

It lurks in all man, but few chooses to manifest that to the extreme. We all are terrorists too if we continually harbor anger and vengeance. The answer to this is nothing but UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Are we prepared to share, rather than just giving away the abundance in the name of charity or humanity?

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

absolutely chilling! great writing!

spacedlaw said...

I love the unusual take you took on seeds (but like you I care not for those).

Art and Poetry said...

Great poem! It was nice to read other peoples comments as well.
It seems to me it would be good if every race and religion had their own nation where they could bring up their children in peace.
This is very sad thing to say but I believe it is true.

dsnake1 said...

you were just writing about terrorism in your last post and then on sunday i read about the bomb blasts in Delhi. It's sad, and totally senseless, but that's how terrorists will wage their wars now, and in the future.

i can sense your pain and anger in this post.

ozymandiaz said...

I wonder, though, would that be heaven or hell for him?

Julia Phillips Smith said...

'redeeming the unsoul is a mighty task impossible even to contemplate'

I'm like many of the others who have responded to your wonderful word: 'unsoul'. There's no better way of describing that personality.

To me, the only way to stop creating people who want to destroy, is to make sure children's needs are met emotionally. Who ever heard of a happy, balanced, contented terrorist? But since children are not valued, even in the countries where that seems to be so, I don't see that happening any time soon.

Ana said...

it makes "living pain" gain a new significance...thanks.

Raven's Wing Poetry said...

this is very moving....I can't comprehend what causes someone to kill. Especially random people he doesn't even know. What hatred gnaws at the heart?

The beginning and ending line as the same makes this very effective and ties the whole thing together.

-Nicole

Anonymous said...

wonderful piece stark and real..thankyou for dropping by my site and I will add you to mine..

Annie Jeffries said...

Heartwrenching. Gutwrenching. May angels surround you always.

Tumblewords: said...

Amazing how bad things go viral and good things wither. Amazing. Be safe!

Patois42 said...

Oh, what horror is going on. Your poem speaks of it very well.

Anonymous said...

those who are bound by hatred for all humanity,
seeds of which have been planted by no one knows whom.


True lines, gautami. Those seeds keep hatred spreading.

Cassiopeia Rises said...

Tami, what a powerful poem. With or without humans seeds will still spread. As long as we have hate and lies, our time is limited.

love you,Melanie

Anonymous said...

Hi Gautami, Powerful writing! my thoughts and prayers are with you..

Deb said...

I linked you in to the GYPO: thanks for the wake-up! And sorry :-)

Anonymous said...

Powerful emotions here--this has a driving beat behind it that works so well, like drums in the night...

Anonymous said...

thank you for this

the glimmer of hope (such as it is): hatred must eventually turn on itself

Anonymous said...

very moving...

"unsoul" !

DeLi said...

its so sad that the simplicity of the widom on how it is to care is often disregarded, hence resorting to this sadness