O Who Will Intervene?

(Dedicated to the oppressed and the victims of Manipur violence)

In the blue skies, the painful cries do ring,
Of children, women, men who sadly cling
To hope that their appeal and pleas be heard,
The plea their leaders chose to leave unheard.

Alas and alack, their cries go ignored,
By partial fathers who have peace ignored.
So silent they remain, without a word,
They’ve chosen the oppressor’s side, absurd.

Regimes and leaders from afar raise voice,
And fight for the abused, a noble choice.
Yet, the good father here, turns a blind eye,
Though his home falls apart, and children die.

Men of their kind, with shared fate to defend,
Have shied away, aid, they chose not to lend.
The strong and mighty, they too quiet stay,
Forsaking the oppressed, in great dismay.

“Not us who suffer, why then should I care?”
A cruel thought, a burden great to bear.
They, silent stand, as injustice prevails,
Ignoring the cries, as compassion fails.

O who will intervene, and set them free,
From hatred’s chains and cruel killing spree?
If not the father, who do we expect?
Who but the premier, leader we respect?

No more hiding behind darksilence’s veil,
No more pretending, as injustice reigns.
Let justice be served, let love break the chains,
For silence to injustice is a crime.

Pekingto Y. Jimo