“Washed ashore..!” | Shaharyaar K Siddiqui

At 3 years of age, blithe & adorable I was!
Like a child from any corner of the world.
Happiness was my engagement and frolicking was my trade,
My impish smile lit up the tiny house,
Carried chocolates & on Sundays gorged on cakes!
Aylan Kurdi was my name!

Knew not what war was, why nations fought?
And why my sun-kissed date fields were razed?
With my pockets jingling with coins, and a heart full of prayer,
I strutted like the richest in the market alleys!
You said they squabbled over Gods & money,
Perhaps they knew Gods better & greater were their needs!

Under the azure sky, into the blue sea we set sail,
Faces grew pale and smile fused into pain,
Bordering on hope & fear, the nostalgic migrant bid adieu,
To forefather’s land, and bolted abodes!
Pointing across the mighty sea, you showed us the Promised Land,
Father! With brimming eyes & quivering lips you said “Very soon”!

Life on land unforgiving, now the sea betrayed,
Cursed was my journey, and doomed were our fate,
Father! You battled relentlessly & fiercely,
Merciless waves snatched us one after another,
The sea became a death bed and your helpless cries shook the overcast sky,
Not a blood was splattered, yet the blue turned red!

Weep not, O father! For I have reached the final shores,
And with my sinless nimble hands, I knock on Heaven’s door!
“Very soon”, I will have my recompense and in measure full,
When deviant sons of Adam will be brought to book and consigned to flames!
Falling onto the robes of the divine, my sparkling tears will not go in vain,
Beware ! For the justice of the Supreme descends!

Shaharyaar K Siddiqui writes for Indian Review. Shaharyaar K Siddiqui, an engineer by profession, a perennial seeker, with love for literature and a primordial quest to express through poetry.