poem from Bhopol

Thu, 14 Aug 1997 22:53:31 -0500
Timmons J. Roberts (timmons@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu)

>Yes,
>I am a rabid optimist
>For me
>Every tree that continues to stand
>Every stream that continues to flow
>Every child that runs away from home
>is an indication
>that the battle is not only on
>It is being won.
>
>You may tell me about
>the nuclear arms race
>And all I can tell you
>is that an unknown child
>held my hand
>with love.
>
>You will try to draw me
>into the plateau of practical life
>Tell me
>that not only god
>but all the religious
>and irreligious leaders are dead
>And all I can tell you
>is that across the forest
>Lives a young man
>who calls the earth
>his mother.
>
>You will give me the boring details
>of the rise of state power
>after every revolution
>And all I can tell you
>is that in our tribe
>we still share our bread
>
>You will reason with me
>And I will talk nonsense like this
>And because
>the difference between breathing
>and living life
>is the difference between
>reason and poetry
>I will read poems to you
>Poems full of optimism
>Poems full of dreams
>And maybe a poem better than this.
>
>
>Satinath Sarangi (Sathyu)
>Sambhavna (Possibility) Medical Clinic
>teaching ayurvedic remedies & yoga to the survivors
>Bhopol, India
>(sathyu@bhavna.unv.ernet.in)
>
>
>