Dear Father, what have they done to you?
They've descended like
The hordes of Genghis Khan
And snuffed out my life
No empathy, no compassion
Not even an ounce of remorse
Brute murder, cold blooded
Men in tactical gear
Ready for war
With a frail old man.
Dear Father what was your crime?
Nothing but an anxiety attack
I'm schizophrenic, you see
A medical condition
Nothing to be violent about
I've suffered daily
Yet enjoyed life
With my family
My mosque, my community.
Dear Father, please tell what shall we do?
My memory you shall keep
Of better days, of days of happiness and joy
And yes, of this day of pure
Monstrosity and murder
Trigger happy cops who couldn't deal with a frail old man
Their high-powered guns
Blazing with a volley of bullets
Cutting me down mercilessly
Let your voices be heard in protest
Let those who walk in the corridors of power
Be reminded of this injustice
Let those who have captive audiences
In mosques and churches
Temples and synagogues
Proclaim the sanctity of life
Demand a better way
Let the voices of protest rise
Above the din of daily life
And seek justice
Not only for Ejaz Choudry
But for all who are victims
Of police brutality
Of power imbalance in society
We will testify before God Almighty
Our lives were not given in vain
Of His Justice, there is surety.
YOU ARE READING
I Can't Breathe and other poems
PoetryPoetry and prose reflecting the reality of life - from the murder of George Floyd to the brutal killing of Ejaz Choudry in Canada, the power imbalances in life create horrific nightmares for individuals, families and communities. My poems and pros...
