Beyond Death

THIS strange morning the spread-out feather is charred and falls while the earth groans! The factory blazes in the whirl of gas that kills in a single breath Death flames all around and the headless bird wings in circles Foul is this water foul is this air foul indeed my mind this earth and heaven On the sprig flickers the dripping leaf in burnt flowers the smell of corpse Tragedy submerges the poet and the poem while the earth groans Before the bubble bursts man raises one hand and for ever sinks while the earth groans The leader at the square strangles the mike aloud he shouts; ``Give me the power!'' The deluge invades the very dais while the earth groans; ``The son of man, my last-born, has he brought but the curse of death?'' Never again will these cells wake up alive never will these genes be born again The four directions now stand aghast and wait for the white night while the earth groans. Over there: Hunger roasts a hundred twigs that curl and fall the dark continent starves and dies the developing ones swallow poison Over here; burning citizens draw back from hell the clouded sky cracks and the legacy of pain spills over generations while the earth groans The sun grows pale unable to bear this heat the sea collapses and the waves mumble as the earth groans Wierd shapes will wander this earth, curse the paternal seed forgiving none The water in cupped hands the air just breathed in the very universe is under a curse Gargoyles will arise unable to tell where father mother sister died or lie buried Cries of lamentation viscous on the earth, will clot to silence Knowing that a time will come when one may not even cry the earth now groans Here the sons cut off heads here the daughters scorch the foetus Has the time come to finish off the race has man had enough of it? The earth does groan and with it every sun every planet, every star the celestial nebula the milky highway the wails of the earth echo far away (A planet out there halts on its rounds to watch the earth!) But no one is here no son of man to listen or care when the earth groans There they hang the powers that be heads downwards fluttering like bats beckoning darkness singing the praise of power Adding capital to interest adding interest to capital flying skull and bones disfiguring science brandishing statistics to vindicate untruth They swim in these tears they fatten up on this blood sowing and reaping death they challenge man's destiny. Unless that challenge is met this earth will go barren so she groans till we listen O for a million hands a million million hands to wipe off her tears The hands of those not vain about the light of the day nor insulting to the dark of the night The hands of those that honour the past of those that look forward to the future These hands should rise and wave aloft These throats should open and sing aloud!