Peace by peace, we can do it
Ranjan Yumnam *
Everybody wants peace, but nobody is willing to drop the guns
It is as if an epidemic of violence has gripped us,
The disease of vengeance has engulfed the body politic
Xenophobia has penetrated both sides for an elusive All-or-Nothing outcome
Every project, however challenging, can be turned into smithereens
And deal with them step by step, one day at a time
Don't look for immediate solutions,
You won't find them
Kindle the peace process, however insignificant it is
Sometimes, the symbolism is more powerful than the bravado
Starting the dialogue is the key, breaking the ice
Like a cascade of waterfalls falling into place
Peace is our natural state of being
War is a diversion antithetical to human nature
Without peace, civilization will grind to a halt and undo itself beyond repair
Welcome respite, usher in a time for healing the wounds and opportunities to move on
If you think outsiders can broker peace,
You are setting yourself up for disappointment
Only the warring brothers can create amicable conditions for peace to flourish
Lose sight of this, you will regret, falling prey to divisive politics from strangers
Sooner than later, realise that any victory in this conflict is a notion—a pyrrhic victory
Other than licking wounds and recounting opportunities lost
The human cost is disproportionately high for a cause that is so tenuous and unsustainable
Come back to your senses, bite the dust, and rush your duke for peace meetings
Manipur is famous, notoriously so
Let's make our motherland a haven for all communities
There is room for everyone's legitimate aspirations
Don't give up on peace; if you must abandon something,
Ego it is.
* Poem written by Ranjan Yumnam for The Sangai Express
This poem was webcasted on 12 July 2023 .
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