The Poem: Kashmir

Halt ! while lingers my bleeding grace:

burning, waning and failing in this breathless plea. When last did I cry?

( Farhaan Umer )

Laughter once resonated between these blood stained Chinars.

Now a blind child asks me, "When last did I cry?"

( Sanna Sultan )

So little is the worth of life of people of this paradise.

For animals they so care, for us not even sympathy: when last did I cry?

( Sheeshu )

There is pain, there is anger, and there is gloom in the air.

Is my land actually cursed or held captive by destiny? When last did I cry?

( Kalpana Tikku )

Here the wolves are no wolves and the victim is no victim.

Here children are no children, just a beast of democracy: when last did I cry.

( Altaf )

We lost a son, a brother- the one who fought on our side.

I met him in my dreams and he asked me, "When last did I cry?".

( Manzoor Wani )

O children of Kashmir, what you deserve is the love, laughter and freedom.

History decreed that your freedom must yield from tears and tragedy, when last did I cry.

( Mary Scully )

My yearning and longing brought me to you. Like long lost lovers, we finally unite. Are certain things never meant to go right?

The streets cry, the rivers cry, the meadows seem to plea. I told them I was an absentee, never actually free. When last did I cry?

( Kalpana Tikku )

Death dances in our streets, and the bullets play the tune.

They try to suppress us with their power, but truth is Almighty: when last did I cry?

( Sofi Shah Nawaz )

One by one they pluck the flowers off, the nightingales cry.

They will stop at nothing, Only when the garden is empty? When last did I cry?

( Saima Shafi )