THIS BORDER

The poem I have planned to upload is written by Dr. Bashabi Fraser who teaches at the Napier University in Edinburgh. Darby and I fell in love with it when she gave it to us on our short stay at her place. This poem is, if I am not mistaken, a part of a book entitled, 'Partition Stories' and tears still sting my eyes, every time I recollect the images.Here goes...


This Border


There was a time when you and I
Chased the same butterfly
Climbed the same stolid trees
With the fearless expertise
That children take for granted
Before their faith is daunted


Do you remember how we balanced a wheel
Down dusty paths with childish zeal
Do you remember the ripples that shivered
As we ducked and dived in our river
Do you remember what we shared
Of love and meals, and all we dared
Together - without fears
because we were one
In all those years
Before we knew that butterflies
Were free to share our separate skies
That they could cross with graceful ease
To alight on stationary trees
On either side of this strange line
That separates yours from mine
For whose existence we rely
Entirely on our inward eye
This border by whose callous side
Our inert wheel lies stultified
This border that cuts like a knife
Through the waters of our life
Slicing fluid rivers with
The absurdity of a new myth
That denies centuries
Of friendships and families
This border that now decrees
One shared past with two histories
This border that now decides
The sky between us as two skies
This border born of blood split free
Makes you my friend, my enemy.