Through our oafish deeds,
We disown our scheming acts -
When, while planning, arranging,
Pursuing peace,
We prepare for savage wars.
The salient features of any wars
Are their war crimes.
Oh! The war crimes!

Wars are never fair.
How can there be fair victories,
Or peaceful wars?
We all know that.
But people can be different!
Some never cease becoming devils:
Slaughtering children,
And making widows out of fresh brides.

Dubai
2019

Geeta Chhabra

Through our oafish deeds,
we disown our scheming acts -
when, while planning, arranging,
pursuing peace,
we prepare for savage wars.

The salient features of any wars
are their war crimes;
shaken truces, broken worlds, left
tottering far behind.
We bring out other worlds,
measuring: ravaging battles
burning flesh amid battle-cries.

Wars are never fair.
How can there be fair victories,
or peaceful wars?
We all know that.
But people can be different!
Some are never out of becoming devils:
slaughtering children,
and making widows out of fresh brides.

2009

Geeta Chhabra