The barbaric open-air death of John Floyd televised worldwide stirred the conscience of those who had it. The #BlackLivesMatter movement put the colour problem in perspective and many around the world identified with it. WSN presents the heartfelt outpouring of a young poet -14-year-old, Delhi-based, ninth class student Harnoor Kaur Grewal who hopes that times will change and colour will not be a discriminatory weapon by one person against another.

THE SIGHT OF ONE HUMAN BEING BEING TORTURED in the name of race, caste or colour is something that baffles me no end and makes me very sad. I was deeply saddened when I saw the news of George Floyd dying of homicide when he was neck-restrained by an American policeman while his colleagues stood still allowing him to do what he was doing -choking for full three minutes, not listening to his plea of “I can’t breathe.” Such monstrosity is intolerable and unacceptable. The police in uniform -in the United States of America and elsewhere must know how such dastardly news on television and social media affects children and teenagers. I am hopeful things will change for the better.

‘An untold sad testament of my life;
No joy, no peace; all struggle and strife.’
Said, the women who came up to me
‘That my colour being is all my difficulty
This society of the powerful white and yellow
Made my life like a bamboo hollow
We are outcasts so say they all
Realization of this has created a wall
Struggling to survive each moment, each day
Breathing on borrowed air, they say
Blacks are we, the slave since past
You will remain so slaves till last.

There is no option to break free from this
Even caged, chained and exhausted amiss
One of us tried to be free from chain
To breathe open air, but all in vain
They caught him and beat him hollow and blue.
He is now living or dead; no clue.

Living in these alleys of death and hell
The real story I am afraid to tell
My thoughts fly which no one can catch
Why cannot we stand; why don’t we match
Their body is the same as that of mine
Made by one God, the super sublime
Why did he allow this war of colours
Belittling the precious and dear life of ours.

They call themselves day and call us night
But God made us equal may be black and white
He created no difference in mind or sight
Pray assure us to live respectfully upright.
I am sure the dream will soon be true.
When we are also respected like you.’

Harnoor Kaur Grewal writes short stories and poems while pursuing her school studies. She is deeply interested in environmental issues though she closely monitors current affairs too. Much-travelled Harnoor Kaur started writing verse at 9 and comes from a family of writers. Her first book of poems will be published soon.

Title Photo: George Floyd portrait by Andrez Guzman. Courtesy: thecurrent.org