kashmir

Kashmir
once a heaven
always a hell
lavish saffron fields
emanating smoke
of communal hatred
once adorned by flowers
now nameless graves.
virginal streams
breaking through mountains
no longer carry
the Godblood
but remains
of dismanteled parts
once a human body
pasture fields
running full
of little boys,
high cheekbone
pink mask
shepherding the four-legged
now lay full
of landmines
occult landmines
unaware of their catch
music of bhand pather
flowing unheard
amidst
the soothing dose
of gunfire and bombs
promiscuous sprwal
of incubus army
raping women
raping women alive
raping women dying
raping women dead
raping dead women again.
empty streets
celebrating absence of
people gone underground
in safety of basements
people gone underground
in safety of their graves.
kashmir
once a heaven
always a hell
let me tell you
a secret
kashmir
turns into the heaven
it once was
in the safety
of the night
for that
i just need
to fix myself
another drink.