Nowadays, I must confess
that most of the time
I feel like a helpless prisoner
trapped inside my fortified
Palatial mansion, watching
Aghast, the gory spectacle of
World rapidly degenerating
Spewing like a volcano
Spreading the seeds of hatred
Intolerance and a strange
Gospel, giving tacit validity
To annihilate of hitherto
Dearly valued human – life
Under the pretext of
Propagating of a strange
Religion, when even innocent
Civilians, not to mention
Hapless children are
Mercilessly gunned down
Contrary to our belief
That gods have been
Always equated with
Infinite love and mercy
As contemplate, well-knowing
That the human life is
Undoubtedly very precious,
But in Nazi camps
An uncountable number of
Human beings of Jewish
Nationality were gassed
Ever ripping our conscience
Though it remains a distant
Memory, we must not forget
Past history, for it can repeat
At any moment unannounced
Unless we are vigilant
Assuring that we awake
From our deep slumber
At the crucial moment
From the drowsy comfort
of our self imposed
Aloofness for perpetuation
of perennial values
Such as human dignity
And heart-warming
Tolerance of our fellow
Human beings should be
Given highest priority
Even when the reason
Is unduly challenged
When faced with strife
And turmoil, for our
Failings, undoubtedly
Will have a damming effect
And no excuse can be
And should be tolerated
For it will certainly
Dehumanize us
Under which animal
Instincts, unspeakable
Mayhem and horrible
Atrocities will be
Given validity, and
Even an undue respectability
Under which unjustifiable system
We will live
Like zombies, rather than
As benevolent and
Ever loving human beings.
- Ranjan M. Amarasinghe