Because You Said, "Enjoy!"

BECAUSE YOU SAID, "ENJOY!"

It's getting harder to enjoy the day

When the neighbour's son is questioned

For growing his beard,

When the girl with a cloth

Over her head

Is mocked for having no sense

Of progress, of modernity, of civilization.

It's getting harder to enjoy the day

When the little girl

With the foreign sounding name

Is the last to be picked

On the cricket team,

When elders warn the young,

Don't say it aloud

Don't send it as a message

Delete everything you have

When all you have is nothing.

Nothing upon nothing upon nothing.

It's getting harder to enjoy the day

When a mob murders a man

Cutting him to pieces

Ecstatic in celebration,

While they stay busy

Studying the type of meat

He was carrying,

And they are still

Ecstatic in celebration.

It's getting harder to enjoy the day

When they say

They all say

They have weapons

Weapons to protect the land,

(To guard, to defend - they insist.)

A force stronger than the military,

And the rest look on in silence.

It's getting harder to enjoy the day

When the only help you get

Is thoughts and prayers,

And an inquiry into the son's whereabouts

And a warrant filed

And an arrest carried out

And a notice stuck

Crying

Beware! Beware!

Here resides a criminal.

Without trial.

Suspicion and fear

Is now everyday make-up.

It's getting harder to enjoy the day.

There is nothing left

To hold on to

There is nothing left

To enjoy.

- Maryam Kaleem