Soft and silky petals make a lovely flower
No beauty could be praised
when a petal is on its own
All types of flowers, sans colour, size,
and smell
How beautiful they look
when tied together?
Humans too are like
multi-coloured flowers
How attractive when they are together?
Like one family
in peace and harmony
It would look like a paradise on earth.
Caste, creed and the colour of the skin
Are used as bases for love and hate.
Do not the religions teach man
To love thy neighbour,
not to discriminate?
Even the words of the religious leaders
Are being distorted to spoil the world.
Isn’t it despicable,
wicked and vile?
To think and act – man against man.
Thus the ugliest,
most callous creature,
Breathing on this earth is man,
no doubt.
Couldn’t we be like
the flowers in a bunch?
Not like petals,
which don’t match with each other.
Lalitha Somathilaka