World's Birthday

On world's birthday
I began to contemplate
What have I done and left
Undone, but this year
Not so much rebuilding
Of my everlasting damaged
Psyche, eroding relations
Digging out stumps of
Old resentments
That refuse to rot on their own
No, this year I want to call
Myself to task for what
I have done and not done
For peace.How much have
I dared in opposition?
How much have I put
On the line for freedom?
For mine and others?
As these freedoms are cut down
Sliced and diced, where
Have I spoken out? Who
Have I tried to move? In
This season I stand
Self-convicted laziness
In a time when lies choke
The mind and rhetoric bends
Reasons to creepy
Choking dangers. Here
I am willing to stand openly
The fire dazzling my eyes
And as I approach
What judges me, I judge
Myself. Give me weapons
Of minute destruction. Let
My words turn into sparks.

- Nirmohi