This post was written by Dave Santulli, United Planet’s Executive Director
I recently returned from Sarajevo. During my stay, I had the privilege to visit the war museum and I found this poem which gives a glimpse into the realities of the war. It also reminds us of how important the work is that we do at United Planet to encourage mutual understanding, lend support to one another, and preserve peace.
Listen
To the breathing of
Planet Sarajevo
Listen
to the Girl crying:
“Death, don’t take me along.”
How many times have we
Uttered
with tears
our ardent prayers for peace?
Death cares not for the girl’s tears,
Death cares not for human prayers
Listen
To the breathing
of Planet Sarajevo
See how full of bloom
Planet Sarajevo is!
Can’t you hear
the blood
pulsating through its veins?
People go-
to have their teeth filled
People go-
to take children for a haircut
People go-
to buy newspapers
the one over there
breeds pigeons.
This one, see,
cannot live
without crossword puzzles
See
how people go
carried away with work!
See how all of them
have aged overnight!
What has made them, all at once
so- beautiful?
On Planet Sarajevo
I saw a man-
he was smoking a pipe- and rushing
by!
On Planet Sarajevo
I saw a man-
eating- and weeping
I saw a little girl,
on Planet Sarajevo,
in the park which was not there
picking up flowers that were not
there!
Death is a thorough reaper,
in vain the girl’s tears,
in vain every prayer for peace!
In the universe-
its name is Bosnia-
a little girl,
with the hand which she has not,
picks up flowers which are not!
This is not war
-in war, there are flowers
everywhere-
this is the struggle from the
Beginning of Time!
In it two principles are fighting
-from the Beginning of Time
to the Day of Judgement-
the principle of Good
and the principle of Evil!
Let there never be an end
to the struggle between Good and
Evil!
Should Good
disappear from the World?
Should the Girl
kiss the hand
of Death the Reaper?
Don’t you hear her crying:
“Death, don’t take me along?”
Don’t cry, little girl
Don’t cry, daughter!
Never, never
will the end come
to the struggle between Good and Evil.
-Abdulah Sidran Sarajevo, February 1, 1994
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