the war has silenced
the radios that used
to wake us up
plucked the flowers
that smelt of beauty
coloured the water
that tasted of life
in blood red
and covered the sky
where the birds flew
in smoke
the men are all dead
women left naked
after being raped
and children have forgotten
what smiles looked like
as the forces marched
in one tone
sang by their boots
the old song is being sung
again:
where there was life a while ago
there is death circling now
the men in camouflage dress
have graced the earth from hell
Sutputra Radheye is a poet and commentator on themes affecting the socio-eco-political scenario. His works have been published on Frontier, Countercurrents, Janata Weekly, Culture Matters (UK) and other platforms.
Featured image: View of an explosion, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine, near Dnipro, Ukraine on February 24, 2022/Reuters