Obituary
Inna Lillah e Wa Inna Illaihe Raajeoon
We, the people, regretfully announce the passing away, yet again, of our beloved semi-democracy. We thank our families, friends and patrons for their efforts towards her revival. Funeral rites have already been performed at the presidency. RSVP www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk.
Prayers for reincarnation will continue in Anytown, Anyabad, Anygarh & Anypur in Pakistan and anywhere well-wishers may reside.
We dedicate the poem below to her memory.
Death of Democracy
Blood, sweat, toil and tears,
Pen, print, swords and shears,
No more jeers, no more cheers,
Realization of all our fears.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Damocles' sword has come to drop,
Tongues to crop, heads to chop,
To scrub the tub, comes out the mop,
The scum has riseth to the top.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Media's on the chopping block
Judges, lawyers in the dock
Markets leery, plummets the stock
Police, people run amok
Alas! Democracy's dead.
The demigods are out in light,
They say to help us in our plight,
Right is wrong and might is right,
Save your souls and do not fight.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Terror for terror, fire for fire,
Stand at ease or face our ire,
Promises great, reality dire,
Inflation grows ever so higher.
Alas! Democracy's dead
Lives go on, pendulums sway,
Some just dream, some just say,
Let things take course, let's make some hay,
Let's wait an hour, let's wait a day.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Nurse not my wounds when I'm all bled,
Feed not the body when the soul has fled,
"I don't need freedom when I'm dead,
Can't live today on tomorrow's bread" *
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Zohair Nanjiani
P.S. Unfortunately, despite encouraging pledges, the contributions fell short of covering the cost of the print announcement. Kindly forgive the use of this space meant for more meaningful discourse.
* Couplet courtesy Langston Hughes' "Democracy"
We, the people, regretfully announce the passing away, yet again, of our beloved semi-democracy. We thank our families, friends and patrons for their efforts towards her revival. Funeral rites have already been performed at the presidency. RSVP www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk.
Prayers for reincarnation will continue in Anytown, Anyabad, Anygarh & Anypur in Pakistan and anywhere well-wishers may reside.
We dedicate the poem below to her memory.
Death of Democracy
Blood, sweat, toil and tears,
Pen, print, swords and shears,
No more jeers, no more cheers,
Realization of all our fears.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Damocles' sword has come to drop,
Tongues to crop, heads to chop,
To scrub the tub, comes out the mop,
The scum has riseth to the top.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Media's on the chopping block
Judges, lawyers in the dock
Markets leery, plummets the stock
Police, people run amok
Alas! Democracy's dead.
The demigods are out in light,
They say to help us in our plight,
Right is wrong and might is right,
Save your souls and do not fight.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Terror for terror, fire for fire,
Stand at ease or face our ire,
Promises great, reality dire,
Inflation grows ever so higher.
Alas! Democracy's dead
Lives go on, pendulums sway,
Some just dream, some just say,
Let things take course, let's make some hay,
Let's wait an hour, let's wait a day.
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Nurse not my wounds when I'm all bled,
Feed not the body when the soul has fled,
"I don't need freedom when I'm dead,
Can't live today on tomorrow's bread" *
Alas! Democracy's dead.
Zohair Nanjiani
P.S. Unfortunately, despite encouraging pledges, the contributions fell short of covering the cost of the print announcement. Kindly forgive the use of this space meant for more meaningful discourse.
* Couplet courtesy Langston Hughes' "Democracy"
posted by Silent Spectator at 10:38 AM
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