Readers’ Corner
You forgot Metta
The precept of loving kindness
In the way you treated me
And relegated me-
Just another ‘body’ to the flames
You ignored Karuna
The act of all embracing compassion
When you chased my parents away
And denied me
A decent burial
You forgot about Muditha
Sincere joy at the happiness of others
When you didn’t care about my culture
And rejoiced instead at the fear and terror
You brought to my tiny body
And you didn’t consider Upekkha
Equanimity and balance
When you adjudicate ,
Your justice not tempered with fairness
But in a court deaf, dumb and blind with hate.
And I
All of twenty days old
Came into this world
Kicking and screaming,
With a hunger to live
Forced out
In a pyre of flames
Fuelled by hatred, fear and injustice
(SHAHAMA RAJI SALEEM OLD BISHOPIAN)
