Flames

By Ali Ashhar

The horizon of fraternity

is overshadowed 

by the clouds of injustice

I conceive a disease that has swept

the nooks and crannies of the earth

a disease whose fatality knows no count, 

a disease whose vaccine is yet to be found

I open my eyes and witness 

so much pain

deep inside

sufferings on the border, 

sufferings in the town, 

sufferings in the tribe, 

sufferings beneath the layers of skin, 

sufferings on the languages of tongue—

a flame ravaging over the ages 

pain that comes to humanity

under the disguise

of colour, caste, religion or language

pain that is indifferent to mankind

of gender and generation

yet different to human beings

of prejudice and pride—

a homogenous theme that

haunts heterogeneous stories.

Ali Ashhar is a poet, short story writer and columnist from Jaunpur, India. He is the award-winning author of the poetry collection, Mirror of Emotions. His works appear in Indian Review, The Raven Review, Bosphorus Review of Books, among others.