Don't Step Out!

In childhood summer days

My grandpa used to warn:

‘My child don’t step out
In the garden in night!

There is a snake chasing rats.’

In school days family doctor used to

Warn mama: Don’t step out

In the street or go to school! for a week.

The plague is spreading like a deranged man’s rage.’

Our Kashmiri gardener

Warns his young daughter:

‘Don’t venture out in the street.

A red-eyed wild soldier,

Drunk and intense,

Is stomping our street

His bayonet erect!’

Now my grandson returns

Early from his school and whispers soft:

‘School is closed. Let us not venture out

In mosque or  mall

Bus or cinema hall.

There is a bomb scare.

No one know what type and size.’

A hill station hotel manager suddenly regrets:

‘For two days no sight seeing, sir.

All roads are blocked for security reasons!

The President and her family and friends

Have arrived for holidays!’

M. Hasan

Ajmer, September 19, 2011