Not shell-shocked. No splintered bones for me
And I’m not on my way to the hospital
I am fine. Blasts are far from where I am
I didn’t board the bus with drunk goons for company
My intestines did not angrily coil around that rusted rod
I am fine. The rapists are far from where I am
No Swiss accounts for me and no kick-backs
No IB, CBI, and Interpol crawling on my spine
I am fine. Scamsters are far from where I am
But then why am I in this cocoon of fear, and why
Are my limbs so far from me?
I cannot point out.
I cannot run.
I cannot fight.
Only the insane protest and the sane just live their lives.
I am fine. Insanity is far from where I am
Arvind Passey
21 February 2013
17 comments
Akanksha Dureja says:
Feb 22, 2013
A lot of helplessness and nothing more 🙁
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
This is why we are where we are, Akanksha…
Akanksha Dureja says:
Feb 22, 2013
Exactly 🙁
Saru Singhal says:
Feb 22, 2013
We are the common man, we are helpless and most importantly we fear everything. We are happy with the fact that we survived another blast, our daughters are safe and we are earning a meal. Just existing. Sigh!
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
Mortal passivity is actually always in active form, so to say… and ‘action’ slumbers! 🙂
KayEm says:
Feb 22, 2013
Another very telling post, Arvind. I do believe, though, that people are beginning to understand things won’t improve unless they unite in action. If we got together and fought for an independent CBI that doesn’t have to report to the very people they investigate as also for tranparency through IT, a lot of what ails our country would be drastically reduced. I have to agree with you that people won’t get together for something that doesn’t affect them directly. Blame apathy and fear.
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
Apathy and fear… yes, KayEm, quite true.This is going to continue until each of us decides to evolve into someone better. Evolution is not just changing form from an grovelling amphibian to Homo sapiens… we need to change from a grovelling human to one that stands upright.
Rachna Parmar says:
Feb 22, 2013
Very true! Everytime there is a blast, we check if we and our loved ones are safe, have some heated discussions and move on. “Insanity is far from where I am.” Very telling!
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
Thank you Rachna…
Shail Raghuvanshi says:
Feb 22, 2013
Oh Arvind. We all feel the same way. Helpless, Angry…
Your state of mind and emotions have been woven well in these lines of verse….What else do we do but write….
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
Well Shail… writing with conviction is the first step that leads to getting up and doing something. Similarly, reading with involvement is the first step that leads to getting up and doing something. Now all this getting up doesn’t happen after just one poem or a few lines of fiery prose… it is a long process that sometimes takes years. Let us hope we evolve into a better civilisation… by writing and reading what is best.
Shail Raghuvanshi says:
Feb 22, 2013
I agree fully. Better civilisation…hmn..
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 22, 2013
Yes… as i wrote earlier, ‘we need to change from a grovelling human to one that stands upright.’
Sapna - Just another wake up call says:
Feb 28, 2013
Arvind ji,
every word of this poem rings so true. we do try to think of everything that happens around us as not really concerning us. and yet in our subconscious we know that its not as far away as we’d like to believe. We start watching over our children more closely, locking our doors more carefully…. if only more of us could pick up the courage to be insane, maybe there would still be hope. Loved this one. would love to share it on my wall if you permit.
Arvind Passey says:
Feb 28, 2013
Thanks for reading and appreciating the poem. Yes, please go ahead and share the poem… poetry does need to travel far and wide!
Sanhita Baruah says:
Mar 14, 2013
wonderfully written.. a poem the whole country should read.. there’s a rebel in each one of us, but there’s this fear of taking a risk that makes us just another “law”-abiding citizen and no matter how much we contemplate we don’t take any action..
BTW I loved the lines -“Only the insane protest and the sane just live their lives.I am fine. Insanity is far from where I am”
Arvind Passey says:
Mar 14, 2013
Now this is one comment that I would want to be framed and kept on my table in the Study. Thank you so much for pleasing the poet in me. 🙂