Chaotic Murmurs through Tunnels of Millennia
By: Sultana Raza
You know not what they did: froze us cruelly, maliciously,
Brought us to limbo land
Where we have to endure probing gazes of millions:
Their dull curiosity, their unclean breaths.
How dare they not bow their heads to us? Yet, must we suffer for long?
How many more centuries? For 'ere the Athenian empire fell, so will this one, and
Then will we be allowed once more to be cleansed by the sea breeze,
Rubbed dry by salt, bake in purging heat of authentic Helios,
Washed clear by water of raging clouds.
The elements, we are used to; even the stone freezing snow,
But this ambient half-light, the same, same, same temperature,
The sweaty mortals whose perspiration pollutes our unfelt, unbreathed breath.
Shearing agony. A purgatory, a step away from inferno.
What did we ever do to merit this treatment?
Yes, our lads went out, conquered cities, states, overseas and on land.
But never did they embalm us in air this damp, this dank.
Never did they deprive their prisoners for so long
Of just one pure breath, one sliver of sunlight.
Never did they stop them from communicating with starlight,
Or be bemused by moonlight for two long centuries.
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