I watch mutely the inexorable march of time
I watch wide-eyed the bloody dance of time
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Fear, disbelief and anger uniting young students
Meted out treatment meant for criminals
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Women huddle in bitter cold, shocked out of their complacency
Their future and presence a certain uncertainty
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Venom spewing leaders from the entire spectrum
Laying dead bodies irrespective of religion
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Tear gas, batons, blazing guns and ineptitude
Atrocities of complicit lawkeepers on innocents
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Marauding death sweeps in striding purposefully
Mutilating old and young indiscriminately
I am a bystander
I watch mutely
Day in day out a mockery of democracy
I look for a peace pareidolia in the tea leaves
I am a bystander
I watch mutely.