Asma Nasir

BLEEDING KASHMIR

IN THE DALE OF BUTTERFLIES 
EVERYWHERE THERE ARE CRIES

SOBBING OUT THE WHOLE STORY SADLY
MAKING YOU IMAGINE QUIETLY 

IMAGINE IF YOU WERE AT THEIR PLACE
FIRES, GUNS AND SHELLS YOU HAVE TO FACE

IMAGINE YOURSELF SITTING IN YOUR GAZEBO
WHAT YOU SEE ONLY IS THE INDIAN GESTAPO

IMAGINE IF YOU GO OUTSIDE TO BUY SOMETHING AT NIGHT
AND FALL PREY TO THE BULLET OF THE SOLDIERS WHO ARE IN THEIR GARGANTUAN APPETITE

THEN ON THE ROAD YOUR DEAD BODY LIES
FOR YOU YOUR MOTHER MADLY CRIES

YOUR CHILDREN WEEP 
SEEING YOUR DEAD BODY IN THE JEEP

WHO WILL FEED THEM NOW
WHO WILL LOVE THEM NOW

WHAT CAN THEY DO AT ALL
STILL STANDING AGAINST THEIR ENEMY AS A WALL

THESE UNARMED INNOCENTS HAVE TO SURVIVE
INJURED THEY ARE BUT  THEIR SPIRITS ARE ALIVE

NOTHING IS IN THEIR HAND
BUT THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE THEIR LAND

THEY WILL NEVER GO EVEN THEY KNOW
EVERYWHERE IN THEIR LAND IS THEIR FOE

SISTERS LOST THEIR BROTHERS
AND MANY DAUGHTERS LOST THEIR FATHERS 

THEY CAN DO NOTHING OF THEIR FREE WILL
BUT THEY ARE NOT QUIET AND STILL

THOUGH THEY ARE MADE HOMELESS
BUT THEY CAN NOT BE MADE HOPELESS

THEY ARE BOLD AND BRAVE
LIKE A GIGANTIC OCEAN WAVE

THEY HAVE LOST THEIR EYES
BUT THEY STILL HAVE DREAMS FULL OF BUTTERFLIES

MANY HAVE EMBRACED MARTYRDOM
TO MAKE TRUE THEIR DREAM OF FREEDOM

THE LAND IS THEIRS 
BUT NO ONE IN THE WORLD CARES

ALL WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE IS NOT FAIR
BUT TO FEEL THEIR PAIN HUMANS ARE RARE

TEARS ROLL DOWN THEIR CHEEKS
BUT THEY HOPE SEEING SPARROWS JOINING THEIR BEAKS

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT THEY WILL GAIN
BUT AFTER HAVING SOME PAIN

THEY ARE THE REAL GOLIATHS AND GO-GETTERS
IT’S CLEAR FROM THEIR ACT IN ALL THE MATTERS

THEY BELIEVE EVERY KASHMIRI WILL WEAR NEW SUIT
ON THE DAY THEIR BLOODY STRUGGLE WILL BEAR FRUIT

About the author: Asma Nasir is a 19 years old girl from Lahore, Pakistan.