By Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thoughtƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
and the thought has found words.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Robert Frost

Ali Bumaye

He who looks like a butterfly
Stings like a bee
No scares in his face
He is the champion of champions

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When he was drafted
He refused to kill the yellow man
He said they did not call me a nigger
So I will not go to Nam

He defeated many boxers
Also fought against injustice
Mohamed Ali is still fighting
This time may be Parkinsonism

No matter how long it will take
He has not given up the fight
Still got courage and spirit
To face any type of opponents

Fiddler on the roof

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fiddler on the roof
Playing his melody
It is sweet and stunning
I am mesmerized
When I close my eyes
The melody still reverberates
The fiddlerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s tune
Makes me blissful
When I listen to the fiddler
I forget time and place

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ St Monica Bay

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was a sunny day
I wentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  fishing at the St Monica Bay
I caught a Cod
Weighed nearly ten pounds
May be it was my lucky day
I wanted to celebrate
On my way back
I was stopped by a sergeant
He said Uncle Sam wants me
I was drafted and sent to Nam
I survived booby traps
But I couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t stand the revolting smell of Napalm
When I came home
There was no welcome
They called me a baby killer
Nobody wanted me
Not even the St Monica Bay
I went fishing
But I could not catch any fish
I went to the bar
I wanted to wash away my worries
Whiskey and cigars
Became my new pals
I met Judy
To whom I paid thirty dollars a night
But I had no salvation
My nights were disturbing
When I was listening to Rolling Stones ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SatisfactionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
I could hear the gun shots and Bell helicopter sounds
My dead buddy said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-take cover FrankƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
When I met my doctor
He said go to the Vet center
Now nearly three decades
I am fighting a solitary battle
Unlike in the Nam I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t see my enemy
I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t want to stay in the Vet center anymore
I want to go to the St Monica bay

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Twin Towers

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Once they stood like giants

Proudly projectingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to the skyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Elegant and breathtaking

Shining like silver under the sunbeam

After the terrible event that took many lives

Twin Towers are no more

Now there are in ruins

Leaving pain and sorrow in many hearts

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Auschwitz

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

My heart cried

When my feet touched Auschwitz

Although many years have passed

It seems like yesterday

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I was brought here

Along with my family

We traveled three nights in a cattle train

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fully packed and had no space to move

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When my little sister asked for water

I gave my water bottle with a small loaf of bread

Then she slept on my lap

But I was awake all the time

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the train stopped

The Doors were opened

There were no welcome signs

The SS men came with guns and dogs

SS-TotenkopfverbƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¤nde greeted no one

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When I saw Sonder- Commanders

I could read their eyes

They moved like living dead

Gave no word or smile

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It was winter and I felt cold

I took a deep breath

My inner mind whispered

You have come to the land of death

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the Commandant came

We were separated

Some went to the labor camp

And the others to the gas chamber

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

They gased my parents

Along with my little sister

Their ashes were scattered

All over Auschwitz

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Countless nights

I lived with the memory of my family

I worked all day long

But we were under fed

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Famine and cold

Fear and beatings

Humiliations and torture

Every single day

We experienced death

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

There was no hope

There was no salvation

Only option left was

The electrified fenceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

After many years

We heard rumors

The War is going to end

And the Red Army is moving towards Berlin

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

In the final days of the War

The Nazis were frantic

Joshua said

They might terminate us all

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

On the 27^th January 1945

The Red Army came to Auschwitz

Many of us were walking skelitons

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

They gave us food

And said soon the War will be overƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Many became astonished

But my feelings were numbed

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

On the day of the liberation

AuschwitzƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  survivors were parted

Many went to their homes

But I had no place to go

Because my family was no more

With Joshua I moved to Santa Barbara

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Many years after the war

Again I came to Auschwitz

Not as a prisoner this time

But as a witness

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

This is the place they eliminated my entire family

I recalled my parents and little sister

They went through the gas chimneyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Without telling me good byeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I tightly held JoshuaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hand

When I saw the remnants of the gas chamber

I felt despair

I had no tears to cry

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I could hear many voices in this place

Million and halfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Men women and children

Who were murdered by the Nazis

Then I clearly heard my little sister saying

Sara thank you for coming to see me

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I closed my eyes

I wanted to be alone

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Why did they do this to us?

Why Why ?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

If I could speak to the whole world

I would say a few words

Please do not let it happen

Never again

Never again

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Forsaken Land

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the life has no value

Obviously the death has

When human are driven like cattle

The beast will rule the land

When there is no humanity

Only blood will flowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When a child becomes a predatorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The men will become man-eaters

There are no morals or justice

Everybody is free to kill

They speak the language of Kalashnikov

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

In the forsaken land

Men are imprudent

They do not think -they act

They do not love ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they hate

There is nothing good or wise

Only flesh and blood

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Killing of a Butterfly

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

On that doom s dayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Near the Dakota Building NY

Mark David Chapman gun downed a legend

The ex Beetle with circular lenses

Paid the prize for the Generation of 60 s

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

He is a phony

Yelled the killer

He is the one who said

Imagine there is no possession

But he had everything

Expensive cars, boats and houses

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

All the way Chapman came from Hawaii

Waited many hours near the Dakota Building

Until his prey returned with Yoko

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

He was a nowhere man from nowhere land

But he made his plans to kill somebody

As Chapman said

I was nobody until I killed somebody

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The Angel of Death

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

He was a Doctor without a heart

But fond of wired experiments

They called him Josef Mengele the Angel of Death

He was specializing in Racial Hygiene

Determined to kill for the racial superiority

‘I am the power, he said

And injected chloroform in to little children’s hearts

Mengele did all these horrible things in the name of science

But did nothing for the medical science

He was only exercising his power with a ruthless mind

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA (This is Africa)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA -The land with brown soil

Where the civilized and virtuous men came in search of slaves

For centuries the land and men were tormented

Looted the nature’s resources to the end

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” where the lion and hyena avoids each other

Everyone is a prey at a given moment

Nothing is guaranteed

Rules by an invisible hand

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” where they discovered ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the earliest hominids

The early civilization -the Bell-Beaker culture of Ethiopia

The golden heritage of mankind

Deliberately erased by the one track mind Archeologists

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA- experienced so much pain

When the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ King Leopold 2 of Belgium ordered to amputated the hands of children

Expressed repulsion when the Apartheid law rejected one man one vote system

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” this is the place where the music began

Harmonious one rhythm

Evolved in to the sound of JazzƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When her children enslaved in New OrleansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TIA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” she has no more tears

No more blood to bleed

And no more sons to sacrifice

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Kunta Kinte to Barak Obama

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It was a long journey that stated in Gambia West Africa

A black boy named Kunta Kinte was brought to Maryland in chains

Enslaved for many decades in the cotton fields

Worked, from sun-up, ’til sun-down

Kunta Kinte alias Toby saw no freedom

He was buried in an unmarked grave

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

KuntaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s generation lived in America

Until they searched for a new identity and freedom

LincolnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Emancipation Proclamation gave a new hope

The Buffalo Soldiers fought for the freedom

But the freedom was many miles away

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When Martin Luther King Jr said I have a dream

The dream that cherished freedom and equality

The dream that cherished justice and peace

But he couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t live until the dream was fulfilled

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Barack,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ObamaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  continued KingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dream

When he broke the racial barrierƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Martin Luther King said from his grave

Thank you almighty I am free at last

I am free at last

I am free at last

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Mr. Sunshine

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Good day Mr. Sunshine

Did you see the mocking bird?

I almost had a heart attack

While driving through the freeway

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

My radio gave a strange noiseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I turned it to the channel 49

Then I heard Bruce Springsteen

Walking in the streets of Philadelphia

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I saw Frank Zappa

Waving his hand

Then the crowed shouted

Lets do it Frank

One more time

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

From the mist of darkness

I could see Freddy Mercury

Then he asked

Who wants to live forever?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Jealous guy Lennon

Played his purple guitar

We were watching the wheels

Until the end of time

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Enola Gay

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The gigantic bird, which came through the sky

Like a Condor on a prowl

Its hungry eyes projected to the city center

When the target was locked

It dropped theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  little boy and flew away

Smoke and fire absorbed over seventy thousand lives

The massive fireball depicted the annihilation written in Hindu Mythology

Nothing left nothing survived but only the smoke and dustƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

With death and destruction

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Human Civilization entered in to a new Atomic Age

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The GuantƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¡namo Bay Detention CampƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It was like the Hamburger Hill

When Akram spent the time in Guantanamo Bay DC

He was in the Camp Delta

Then transferred to Camp X Ray

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

They called him an Enemy Combatant

But he never fired a bullet in his life

In these dark times

Everyone is under suspicion and everyone is a target

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the world is falling a part

Even Cat Stevens would not survive

So needless to talk about Akram

Who was an insignificant cobbler from Sudan

Suddenly converted in to a dangerous man

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

After a long incarceration at the GuantƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¡namo Bay

He was more in sadness than in anger

Living in oblivion for so long

AkramƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  met the sense of emptiness and lossƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

How could he overcome the degrading treatment?

How could he come to terms with the lost years?

Shame and allegation

He witnessed the humanity at its very darkest

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The wounds and scars inflicted at the Guantanamo Bay DC

Will run in his veins

Anger and vengeance

Will form a vicious cycle

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

There are hundreds of Akrams

Those are waiting for justice

Expecting treatment under the Geneva Convention

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

After the dark years

Here comes the Great Law Giver

Who decides to shutdown the modern-day Gulag

The world embraces his decision

Barack Obama’s commitment to close GuantƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¡namo DC

Indeed is a huge leap forward for human justice and freedom

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

A Misfit

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When Stalin forced me to worship his idol

I turned my back on him

Then his men said I was a saboteur, enemy of the people

I was given 5 years in a labor camp

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When Hitler deported Jews

I refused to spit on them

NAZI s told that I was a traitor

Then punished me with a whip

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I was banished

Wherever I went

I was a misfit

Because I got a mind of my own

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I became tired

Worshiping cult personality

While others paid their homage

I was speechless and numbed

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When they said turn to Right

Everybody turned except me

When they said turn to Left

Everybody obeyed except me

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

They knew I had a problem

I was closely monitored and segregated

They rejected me just like plague

Always pointed their finger at me

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

They took my freedom

They took my loved ones

But they couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t take my pride

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Bataan Death March

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

No Mama

No papa

No Uncle Sam

No one to rescue

No one to cover

With empty stomachs

Feeling cold and fatigue

We walk endlessly

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Charley Team is dead

Bravo is gasping

Those who fall down

Will kill by the Japs

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

No Mama

No papa

No Uncle Sam

No one to rescue

No one to cover

Without a hope

Without a salvation

We walk to the jaws of death

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Sgt Patrick is losing his strength

Malaria and starvation made him a wreckƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

He might not survive to see another day

Good-bye Patrick goodbye old friend

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

No Mama

No papa

No Uncle Sam

No one to rescue

No one to cover

We keep walking until we are all dead

No one would ever know our plight

No one would ever imagine our suffering

Soon we all rest in an unmarked grave

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Kristallnacht ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Ho what a night

They called it Chrystal Night

Forcibly braking the silence

Erasing the moon and stars

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Ho what a night

It was the Kristallnacht ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Braking windows and burning SynagoguesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Beating human flesh in a savage rhythm

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Ho what a night

They called it the night of retribution

The night of pay back time

The night of the Jackal

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Ho what a night

Filled with pain and fear

Humiliation and deportation

Loosing the touch of humanity

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The True face of Horror

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

What is Horror?

The word that often echoed by Colonel Walter E. Kurtz

The word that has thousand meanings

The word that stops beating your heart

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Remember Cruella de VilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who wanted to kill innocent Dalmatians

Norman Bates who is expecting guests at the Bates Motel

Freddy Krueger the disfigured, dream stalker who returned in our dreams

Halloween killer Michael MyersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who showed no mercy

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Could you imagine the sharpness of Jason Voorhees Sword?

If not think of the sharp smile of Dr Hannibal Lector

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

What is real horror?

Have you questioned your self for a moment?

Is it the fearful eyes of Transylvanian Nosferatu ?

Or the Villainous smile of Bela Lugosi

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

May be you were terrified by seeingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Phantom of the Opera

Played by Lon ChaneyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Man of a Thousand Faces,”

If not Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Immortalized by Boris Karloff

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Why fear for fictional and factitious horror?

When you are sounded by real horrorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The horrors of day-to-day life

Horrors that dictates our lives

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Did you hear the political persecutions?

The ugly cousin of political extremism

Going hand in hand with the religious fundamentalismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

That kills the human growth and obstructs human freedom

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

For one moment, did you think about racism?

Which clouds human dignity and respect

Mad wars for racial supremacy

When all of us share the same DNAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When you are surrounded by the real horrors

You are empowered and left without answerers

You become a living ZombieƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

A man without moral consciousness

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

You can fight the horrors

By believe in your self

By believe in humanity and justice

You can defeat the horror

Until it is no more

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚