MY JOURNEY TO
PAKISTAN
by Bithi Das
20.07.2006
Pakistan
Do you know the meaning of it?
The land of Purity.
It was one of my dreams
To come to see the land
Where ALexander's tired soldiers broke
Their journey to settle in the
Beautiful valley called Kalash.
There is a place called Khaplu
Where Chinzis Khan's descendants
Still live in their mongolian look.
It is history and I wanted
To see it.
In the Group there was Ken, Simon,
Shara, Susan, John, Derek,
Ray and Stewart.
We had one desire in common,
To see Pakistan.
We travelled thousands and thousands
Of miles crossing rivers, mountains
Valleys, and of course, came to know people.
Came to the view point where Himalaya
Karakram and Hindukush met.
The snow-caped peaks stood in
Front of me in their majestic way.
I felt, if there is heaven, it
Is here and the presence of God
I felt I am no one in front of
These gigantic mountains.
Yes, it is the land of Purity where
You will find from children to old waiting
To greet you with their joyful voice.
No crime, no robbery, poor but
Honest people every where.
At the end, it just came in my mind
These words - VINI VIDI VICI
We came, we saw and we conquered
The heart of the people.
This poem will be recited by Bithi at the Cumberland Market
Festival,
Cumberland Market, 1 pm on the Main Stage, July 29, 2006.
THE LADIES IN
SAREES
by Patsy Futatsugi
I want to see all those colours
Of the ladies' sarees
As they bathe in the sea
Sarees swirling around
I want to see old ladies collecting
Dung from sacred cows
To use to keep their floors clean
Wearing sarees brighter than any colour I've seen
I'll be seeing ladies in sarees swimming
I'll be seeing sacred cows
I'll be seeing lady builders building
I'll be wearing sarees too.
first performed at the National
Poetry Day Celebration,
The Poetry Café, London, England 06.10.2005 |
