The last words of a dying soldier on the battlefield. |
DAWN OF THE WHITE SLEEP (autobiography of a dying soldier) - by Anshul Gandhi I lie here, uncared while the rain beats down on my wound. The wilderness all around me, warns me that I’ll die marooned. I thought I should help my country, and do my duty towards the land; I left everything and everyone behind me, thinking that they would understand. I thought that in my uneventful life, this would be my moment of glory; Unknown to me and others, I was scripting the end of my story. I am no hero or icon, there won’t be many flowers at my grave. Only a young widow shedding her tears, others, I know, will be brave. Thrice I killed the enemy, the first for my own defence. My friends patted me on my back, while I lay shocked and tense. The second one died alongwith my sanity, as my compassion fell apart. The third lies beside me now, the bullet from his gun, in my heart. I feel the rain drenching me all over, or is it my blood trying to wash my sins. I can see the smiling memories of the dead ones, or is it they themselves, welcoming me with their grins. They told me I had done the right thing, they told me I should be proud. They told me that even if death came, my heroics would live outside my shroud. I learnt to ignore my heart, I learnt to suppress my emotion, I gave up on all things Heavenly, War was my only devotion. Who was it that I walked with, Who was it that shared my name. Who was it that lived inside me, I don’t know what I became. I want to grieve for the innocence and the compassion that just died. I want to mourn for my dreams, and the life that got denied. I want it all to fade, I want it all to cease. I just want my share of calmness, I just want to rest in peace. What can I do now, when there’s nothing that lies within. What can I do now, but to wait for It to begin. I think I see It already, the light from beyond this place. I can feel myself go lighter, I think I feel His embrace. I can see the world fade out, and the light keeps going deep. So this is how it all ends. . with the dawn of the White Sleep. |