When
a little hand clenches a little pebble
not
to play… but to hurl, hurt and cripple…
When
with fear and rage little ones tremble
it is
the loss of a mind born openly simple!
A
mind of a child is for kindness to reside
but
some elders unkindly otherwise decide…
Love
is submerged under the reprisal tide
and
the loving child turns to a spiteful side!
Future
is not for diggers of the past season
who
ignore lessons that lead to reason…
Lines
are drawn to define loyalty and treason
and
childhood bears the brunt of the hate-lesson!
And
little hands are handed pebbles for hurling
at
hoods who as warriors are masquerading…
Never
mind the trigger, we need calm thinking
does
a child’s mind deserves such burning?
No
wrongs can be ever set right this way
where
children are led from peace to stray…
There
are better paths than the bloody bay
where
missiles are born of things of play!
It is
time to speak up to reach every hearing
that
the larger fight needs careful considering…
Little
hands are not meant for harmful hurting
Little
hands are meant for positive building!
So
hand little pebbles to little hands now
but
not in the name of another holy cow…
Let
little hands with little pebbles play to show
Little
towers that rise with hope on the brow!
And
if not towers let the pebbles form a way
like
steps that rise to lead to a better day…
in
the name of humanity let’s assert to say
‘little
hands need little pebbles only for play!’
~ Pravin
Sabnis
4 January 2017