Thief of innocence...

Toothless infants, in their blissful ignorance,

Know not the weird ways of the world.

Unaware of the chortling chaos around,

They lie in their cribs, peacefully curled.

Their treasure-chests hold no gemstones bright.

Nor are they greedy gatherers of gold.

They prize not all the wealth of the world.

For, sweet innocence is all their hearts hold.

But the world is indeed a ruthless teacher.

Its ways are passed from father to son.

Like an unending legacy, wrapped in falsities,

Relentlessly, tirelessly, thus life goes on.

And in fertile, young minds, are deftly sown,

The seeds of avarice, spite and vengeance.

Where hypocrisy is donned like a righteous cloak,

And age triumphs as the thief of innocence.

Refugees

I know, we must seem quite out of place.

From your vantage point, ridiculous even.

Like squatters who have set up home

On footpaths and refuse to vacate their poor hearth.

Your expression reveals your incredulity.

Your eyes are startled by the discovery.

But for me and my winged folk,

It is, but a cruel joke.

That has long since ceased to be funny

And remains open, like a yawning gash,

Refusing to be healed by time…

So, when you accidentally look on in passing

At the hay and grass and sodden straw,

Precariously teetering between the iron arms

And trailing down an electric pole,

Know that it is where we have been driven to live.

For, even lone electric poles on road-sides

Can efficiently serve as shelters.

Until of course, there is rain and storm...

Our home, that had once been lush and green,

Have been mercilessly razed to the ground,

To make way for your iron and brick monsters

That shelter you, serve you, help you rule…

As the perpetrators or as apathetic onlookers,

It is you who have caused our plight.

Stop and think of the damage you have rendered on nature.

You – the “Thinkers”..! the “Owners of intellect”..!

You are nothing but the harbingers of sorrow and suffering.

You may make a million aircrafts everyday,

Or imitate us all you like.

But no matter how hard you try,

As long as you are chained to your vices,

You shall never become us – The true spirits of freedom.

And you shall always remain the way you are –

Aliens to true happiness…

Forever, refugees…