Cowardice

By Jeeva Jijo

Why do you open your mouth, when-

You don’t know a thing?

Why do you say it anyway, when you-

Know it’s not right?

It’s not right,

It’s not true,

It’s not whole either.

But you say it anyway.

How do you live, when you-

Know you caused the end?

How do you breathe when you-

Realize you executed the poisoning?

Meaningless words and unavailing

Deeds, you lit the fire up and-

Burned everyone else in it, you-

Poured oil and gasoline, onto-

The fire I wish, to your mouth.

You try so hard and sweat till dusk-

Digging their grave in the dirt, you-

Stepped on the blood, sweat and tears-

They shed, mercilessly you-

Paced through their hearts.

Find a target, found a target.

Arrows dripped in venom, you-

Fire them again you fire them.

Again and again from under your covers,

You fire them, till they’ve got-

No more blood to shed.

Your face is masked.

Your voice is concealed.

Your arrows are fired.

You did it all, and you are-

Still doing it all, at least-

Take off your mask, come-

To the light from your caves,

If you are scathing, 

Do it with your own voice,

Hurt in the light, 

Traumatize under the sun,

Do it with your own face.

What are you so afraid of?

Why are you hiding under a cloak?

You do know what you do!

It’s not right,

It’s not true,

It’s not whole either.

You do know what you say.

Cowardice behaviour is what you exhale.

Breathe in their blood and-

Spit out their ashes.

Suck in their life, and-

Stomp on their head.

You are pathetic, you are-

Hapless. You are miserable,

You are ludicrous and of all-

The things I want to call you,

You are scared, you are scared!

Because you know what you do.

But you do it anyway.

You don’t know, cause-

You don’t see.

You are ludicrous, cause-

You don’t listen.

You are pathetic, cause-

You don’t believe.

You are miserable, cause-

You don’t feel.

You are cowardly,

Because you hide!

You are also fearful,

Because you are aware!

That you are the cause,

Of their bloodshed and end.

You will close your mouth, when-

You open your eyes.

You will keep your words, when-

You open your ears.

By Jeeva Jijo