The Microbe's Shadow : Zulfiqar Naqvi

The Microbe's Shadow

Zulfiqar Naqvi 

​How long will this lack of means and helplessness remain?

Like biting snakes, these solitudes inflict their stinging pain.

​The streets and markets empty stand, and homes are filled with grief,

Even the heavens turn away, from prayers seeking relief.

​They say a single tiny "germ" has brought the world to stall,

Vain is every wisdom now, and useless watches all.

​The hour of trial is upon us, let us pause and see,

How great have been our foolish slips, and our impiety.

​If peace of heart is what you seek, O! Zulfiqar, then mend,

Give up your acts of hurting souls, let disobedience end.

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(Zulfiqar Naqvi  is a prolific Urdu poet and former announcer with All India Radio. He has served as the Chief Editor of Insight Weekly and is the Founder-President of Muntaha-e-Fikr, an international literary organisation. He is a retired Principal of the School Education Department, Jammu & Kashmir.)