One of Us
During civilized periods
in the history of kingdoms
courtiers, or the king’s
person himself,
in audience
with the gadfly,
would offer the fellow
death or exile.
These days
assassins
butcher their fly
in daylight
near security
checkpoints
in front of
bewildered subjects.
My Lord,
Dutugemunu,
slayer of wild beasts
in northern
jungles, why must
we kill brother
Lasantha, shed
our own blood?
Indran Amirthanayagam, January 11, 2009
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Dear Sanjana,
I was moved to write this from the USA. Your site will not let me register.
Ashes at the Stake- For Lasantha
I remember the day I heard
Richard was killed
Almost twenty years ago.
Far away in the diaspora
I sat all night
My back bent
and still.
Regimes shifted,
People still disappeared
into the night
Witches, burnt at the stake
A sacrifice,
An offering..
In the name of the nation,
Today I heard
Lasatha was killed.
“One of us” who spoke
for the “them”,
Burnt at the stake..
Another offering..
In the name of the nation.
Far away in the diapora
I have sat still
With a bent back.
For much too long.
Slowly
The Ashes
Gather momentum…
Francesca
USA
A powerful image "sat still with a bent back." Richard, now Lasantha….we must get up and we must get the world to stand up and say no…in all avaiable forums.