In Response To FOWC with Fandango ~ War ~ What Man is Warring In or Warring Out ~

A war within a war
A war so far a war on a star,
Detonating deafening destructing
A war on sand a war on land


War on terror, war by error?
War for the spoils war for the oils ?
War on the young, war by the young,
Hopeless, groundless, Timeless war;


A war by the armed, on the unarmed
A war by the strong, on the weak throng
A war by dress a war of stress
A war of mess by the thoughtless;


War against flood war against fire
War to spend save, a war to an end?
War against age, war by rage;
A war on a stage a war in a cage


A war of words a war with swords
What man is warring in or warring out
Laying hiding killing mines,building
crushing walls bridges, filling ditches lines


hear cries of enchained spirits ?
bodies writhing raped, murdered
NO WAR the call PEACE ‘the aim'
NO MORE destroying,no false claim;


Senseless, pointless, meaningless,
Time to end deifying war;
Time to end unjust war just for power
A War within a war, a war within a War

A war started in the heavens above
a war cold unseen a war of Faith
Of Obedience surrender or of love
Nothing survives, but Good and Death

(Originally written for POETS UNITED )  © CER 2019

In Response To dVerse Poet's Pub ~ Haibun Monday ~: Memorial ~ Air Attack on Shahdara Bagh Bridge Lahore Pakistan 1971 ~

War broke out on the Eastern Front Border of  West Pakistan as it was known as such  since its birth in 1947.East Pakistan was a thousand miles away with Indian land in between.Travelling from West to East was either by air or by sea.This gap affected the relationships on both sides and then the enemy is always ready to grab a chance.
It was  late September or early October in 1971 This was the second time the conflict escalated. The previous clash in 1965 saw me in college but this time I was a young mother with a two month old baby. Returning by road in a driver driven car our destination was the city of Lahore. Home duty and responsibility forced me to travel. With a baby in my lap accompanied by my young brother in law we bravely drove on. When we reached near the city, the main bridge on the River Ravi was under attack. I heard air raid sirens  the sound of jets and the strafing of bullets. We stopped right there on the roadside the place is known as Shahdara also famous for the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. I looked out, sat numb,not knowing what to do, held the baby tight, I noticed that the area had lots of palm trees on the side we had stopped...my brother quickly helped me out of the vehicle and we managed to take cover against the closest of trees.Sound of firing kept coming, then a few seconds later two big blasts sounded with loud booming effects.As quickly as they came, the planes were chased away by our air defense forces. A few more minutes and the 'All Clear'' sirens blared. Slowly the traffic began moving. We continued our journey and soon reached home safely across the bridge which remained undamaged. A terrifying experience.
Many soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country.


who die for country
martyrs in honor, alive 
heaven's angels all 




   Photograph of Shahdara Bagh  in the Mughal Rule Era in Indo Pak Subcontinent.

                       https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/lahore-old-pictures.160223/

For ~ FOWC With Fandango ~ Chosen

                                                                  They  came to see the girl , they had to choose, and then she was chosen
all the time the boy and the boys mother,sat looking at her,she was frozen

wonder what they had in mind, what they expected, what they saw in reality,
her fair color, smoothness of skin, length of hair and body, style of femininity

the tea trolley had felt heavy as she pushed it in the living room, steps heavy
on the carpeted floor, eyelids dropping with sleep, she glimpsed  a fat belly

wondered whose was it in the family chosen for her, for future life and living
‘tea has a good taste, did you make it ? a croaky voice sounded tight n chilling

she dared not raise her eyes, she was not supposed to  typical Eastern attitude
of shyness, maturity, submissiveness, obedience, acceptance,service n servitude

she was relieved when the party left,it was a routine now, coming serving 
smiling pouring tea, waiting getting up,  saying salam and then regretting


she was now beginning to enjoy playing the game of  ‘ Being Chosen’ 
 fairy tale in home forest, trees unseen , freezing  icy, like Queen Frozen

she knew she would never be chosen, life is not a contest nor it is funny
she would make her own story, this was all done with honey and money