Poetry

Freedom

What is freedom?

One says it’s political.....

No it’s economical......says another

What is freedom ?

Question some others.......

Religious ? ....no we need cultural freedom

Demand another group....

So......

For you what is freedom?

For me.....the real freedom is.......

Waking up in the morning........

Listening to happily singing birds.......

Knowing that I am absolutely safe.......

Without a deadly bomb waiting in the bus.....

To take my body parts away!

Without a chit on my threshold.....

Informing me that my head will be severed

And......

To be displayed on my gate.......

Without a ‘Goni Billa’ on my doorstep!

Nodding his head to the ‘unit’ in the van

Indicating that he knows me......

Without being listed!

To be killed, tortured or ‘punished’

Human beings have instinct......

To go for freedom......

No matter how hard it is or.....

What cost them to do so....

They always follow their instinct....

And acquire freedom.......

Just like they did.........

Nine days ago....!

- Nadira Gunatilleke

A lost world

This world has lost its glory for me

The word teacher means nothing to me

Once so precious students of mine

Now seems so meaningless

Like the dust in the wind

- Bertholamuze Nisansala Dharmasena