Untold technology to short-circuit
‘mental fight’ even here.
“armies amassing” (synaptic doubt)
you look again
ascertain asymmetry
of the real
between hand-held video
depth-of-field and
sheer lines of jagged high mountain
tumbled within a window frame beyond.
perfectly quiet and clear afternoon at snow-line.
not far
they build fortifications on either side
of the Border
Young girl waits by village pump
plastic bucket in hand
radio music resonates
inside her questioning eyes
never yet seen car-bomb town-square carnage
of the Border
aged mother who
turns off TV slow headshake
brings goats in from high pasture
the boys demonstrate wooden rifles
we fight for our country our honour sir
protect the interests as anyone does
of the Border
Always that margin
neglected further edge
detested pull of the other
always that further place
for which we must keep vigil
must keep
there has to be a line somewhere
(in the dirt washed by monsoon)
where children safely play lives tethered
against this space
Mongol hordes Visigoths damn redskins
gypsies & cretins & supernumerary Jew swept clean
to under-side of the mind
keep em out other side
stealth planes too fast to see from both sides
of the Border.
Jammu Kashmir, 2001
whispered lineage 