Just a Civilian

 Eminently happy, the boy builds his fort.
Little tin soldiers, chests puffed and chins high,
Bedecked with rifles, they surround the moat.
Not a soul they allow to pry.
In the piedmont of the fortress I reside, them as my guardian,
Because they are my soldiers, and I am just a civilian.

Eminently happy, the boy names his fort,
Prepares a tricolour flag, hoists it with pride.
“Bharat” is the name, near the entrance he wrote,
Symbol of Dharma the flag is, all terror it shall deride.
Still, I don’t understand its greatness; I just know it till its crux.
When I attempt to comprehend its divinity, my mind reaches a state of flux,
For I am just a civilian.

This fortress named Bharat, 143 crore people call it their house.
The boy, none other than God, with his blessings did douse.
He said unity and brotherhood it spreads, democracy shall it espouse.
Hand-in-hand, spirit-in-spirit, patriotism shall arouse.
We ask God, “Are you a magician?” He replies, “No, I am an Indian.
I reside in everyone who contributes to their motherland,
For even I, God, amongst you all, am just a civilian.”

The little tin soldiers, standing their guard,
Notice some weird birds flying, reaching the fortress.
Something was off about these birds, they looked scarred.
A lack of compassion on their faces, made of metal they looked heartless.
The evil forces wanted fear from us, seeing these creatures in many a million,
But they didn’t regard the faith I keep in our forces,
Despite being just a civilian.

This evil force is not one to carry name, it takes various forms.
The common denominator is that through the conflicted mind it storms.
To fight fire with fire just the surroundings it excessively warms.
But how long do we sit quiet, conform to the norms?
It’s time to fight back with the evil forces, those evil reptilians.
But at what cost? At what expense? Who am I to determine?
For I am just a civilian.

At the brink of war, we reside.
In each other, we must confide.
The evil men across the border, they wish for us to divide,
Because they truly feel our mutual love has died.
Their strength lies in ballistics, ours lies in our billions.
What am I under this glorious might?
For I am just a civilian.

I sleep at peace every night, going by my routine.
In this fortress so safe, the terrors are unseen.
When the news reaches me of the horrid scene,
The world might expect me to be in shambles, but I just gleam.
How blessed I am to live this way, the gratitude I have for the mighty army I cannot say.
All I can do, for their safety and families, I can pray,
For I am just a civilian.

The Mighty Soldiers shall fight for India.
You? Be the person worth fighting for.
Respect their privacy, obey their commands,
And worry not, no one is getting past those mighty doors.
Pahalgam, Pulwama, Pathankot – keep these names in your mind.
Let them serve as examples of what happens when cockroaches confront mankind.
Yes, you are as well, just like me, a civilian.
But forget not, above that, we are all Indian.

- Gollapalli Saketh Ram
A Proud Indian