Wall Street Occupied without an organized movement Egypt under siege, their democracy’s a farcical moment Libya annihilated; no longer the anti-imperialistic force Syria and Iran next; Arab Nationalism reduced to remorse Regressive rebels talk about the promised freedom “Springs” Vaclav Havel a hero, Kim Jong-Il evil, facts are broken wings NATO the proprietor, Islam the enemy, Cold War not yet a ghost Praise the God, drop the bomb, sanction when it hurts the most Year after year, day after day, corporate media headlines the same Celebrities make out, breakup, detox; royal families wedding game Nobel Prizes to warmongers,…
Category: Poetry
Children
You who surrender your children to the gods Have you wondered about the repercussions? Those that grow with heads bent to authorities How will they conceive of unfettered revolutions? When will the children question your scriptures Of dangerous myths and needless sanctities? When would they combat your unfounded claims How to break the cycles of plutocratic doctrines? You who gift your children to miseducation system Have you wondered about lifelong consequences? Those that shape up worldview with falsified histories How will they challenge their status quo semblances? When will the children demand empowering knowledge Schools where seeds…
By Any Means
With the new dawn, the promising sun, revolutionaries now victorious, and after Many comrades dead, many youths spent Finally invincible, triumphant, glorious The masses have won, capitalists mourn Old order’s demise, new seeds of hope sown Winds have changed course, profiteers’ loss System replaced, no sympathy for elitist woes Yet the paths ahead more difficult than traversed Organizing are old guards of private accumulators “We shall soon crush all & bring you back to sense” Modern day White Armies gearing up for assaults Traditionally privileged won’t give up hoarded lands Elected agents lost the battles; not them…
Freedom Tree!
Tireless in pursuit of democratic rights Relentlessly challenging plutocratic might Braving atrocities, police state’s plights Awaiting the passage of this barbaric night Freedom Tree! Free Press shall set us Free! In actions and spirits, journalists united Radical is our zeal, refusing to be placated No longer shall we let scribes be oppressed Duties shall manifest, and our rights protected Freedom Tree! Free Press shall set us Free! Unjust regimes can imprison us; not our thoughts They can chain us down, charge us with treasons Truths we shall expose, fearless in our purpose With conscience intact, misdeeds…
2011: Struggles in Vain?
Will Two Thousand Eleven be more of the same Year of wars, prisons, profit motives by other names Shall we have renounced our faith systems and gods Would religious perversions and charities finally end Can we look ahead to forge progressive alliances Bring together historically oppressed, dispossessed Detached from ruling class fixations, their fancy histories Imagine new ways to expropriate established monopolies? Are new formulations going to ensure global solidarities Or farcical elections to continue national sovereignties Assange will get justice from imperialist coalitions Or be declared a terror despite political polarities In the name of…
Binayak Sen
Judges think they have now jailed Binayak Sen But he is indeed freed by this life sentence They think the doctor’s cause has met its end Little do they know he feels at home with comrades What country, what sovereignty, what justice? Imprisoned Binayak, what dialogues of peace? Liberal democracy a sham, and to save its grace How many Binayaks we must sacrifice? Professional war-mongers comprise ruling class Dacoits-at-large, freely looting the mass Tatas and Ambanis, monopolists get awarded Radia and Burkha, brokers, dalaals, well-bred India is bleeding, oh my motherland in pain Her comrades are dying,…
Assange! Assange!
Assange! Assange! Espionage! How long can they keep you in jails British, Swedish and American cells Who can imprison the source of freedom How long will survive walls of fiefdom Assange! Assange! Espionage! Spy for the people, terror for the ruling class Investigator for truth, justice you encompass Let them win Nobel Prizes and Time covers You win our hearts, love, unending supports Assange! Assange! Espionage! Journalists used to be glorified spokespersons Of White House Press Meets and Royal sermons Fourth Estate, an accomplice for the three wings These power corridors, their holy and…
New India
Yes, the new India is on the rise, Superpower in growth and size Will exceed China, in double digits Software giant, sweatshops sans limits Poverty is the biggest crime Prime Minister’s favorite rhyme Its the Naxals that must die For the governments must lie To protect their seats of power Must rule over a people in despair By feeding myths of developments Need to purge peoples’ movements Yes, the new India is on the rise Racism against Dalits the Repubilc denies Merits, not reservations, shall offer success Networking is fair and so is nepotism excess Ayodhya…
2010: Enough Already!
No change in sight for women’s rights No expropriation of privileged mights Militarists prescribe global peace lies Working class interests fail to unionize Organic farming for corporate profits Healthcare granted for the insured elites Homeless poor in the glitzy American nights Hundred twenty-two die in daily medical plights Twenty-five hundred families each day bankrupt Subjects of Superpower profoundly distraught Feed into Afghan, Iran, and warmongering distractions Collectively throttle international socialist aspirations The Wars are going to end, say the War Presidents Monopolist bankers at G-20 make economic precedents Plutocratic nobility yield from ethical charity claims Priests abuse…
Father
My very first love, my very first friend No words can define, or transcend You reside in me, each thought or act My strength, essence, my truest fact No matter how I say, or fail to express My source of meaning, you are my sense Every knowledge I crave, my liberated mind Noblest gift to me, your love for humankind You dwell in my life, in each moment of mine Precious is your presence, forever shall shine Your love, like the greatest oceans, open sky Breathing in it, sheltered, how blessed am I…. – Saswat Pattanayak, Peoples’…