You said the seamless sky was mine
And from all the glittering stars, I could have a handful too,
To hang them on my balcony when I grew.
You told the pristine streams would always sing to me
When I dipped my feet in childish glee
You said I could climb the majestic mountains
For they were owned by none and accessible for all.
You showed me the vibrant poppy fields
And told, one day, through them I could run free.
You showed me the verdant forest
With mixed fragrance wafting from the silken trees.
And told me I could walk through them fearlessly
You promised that the whole world was mine
And everyone in it was dear to me, so
No one would take away what God had gifted me.
But why can’t I now, see the stars which you had promised ?
They say man’s progress has shrouded them beneath clouds murky
Why can’t I climb those familiar mountains today ?
They say it is included in someone else’s territory
Why can’t I fly across a part of the sky
They say it would be trespassing other's airspace
I can’t dip my feet in that river which used to flow beneath my feet,
They say it would be a breach of some treaty
They tell me not to step in the beckoning poppy fields
As their roots have deadly mines underneath,
And forests now have shooting foliage which kill many.
Oh Daddy, this was not the world you showed to me!
Lofty walls have grown between the lands, the sky and the sea.
Grown by men in power or rich in penny.
Weren’t they for all, weren’t they for you and me ?
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