Columnists
It's June Again ...
A Poem by GURMEET KAUR
Body - a living corpse
Army boots trample
Mauled, dishonored, left to rot:
It's June again...
Sieved by bullets
Choked by gas
Bloodied nectar pond:
It's June again...
Scriptures and history burn
Ancient treasures stolen
Lighthouse of sovereignty crumbles:
It's June again...
My own have betrayed me
Who's a friend, which one an enemy?
Ultimate reality strikes:
It's June again...
I must muster last of strength
This drop of blood, that bit of flesh
The spirit is alive, it can't be had
It's June again...
Boots cannot strip me of dignity
The light shall shine eternally
Chains can shackle the body,
But the mind is ever free.
I will resurrect the towers
Let the prayers fill the sky
Clean the nectar pond,
And let the flags rise high.
I will rebuild my nation
Brick by brick if be
Womb by womb,
Child by child - unfettered energy.
I will rededicate
Rekindle revive regenerate
Reenergize each bone, reawaken each soul
Until the last breath remains.
It's June again ...
* * * * *
Re-published, June 1, 2016
Conversation about this article
1: Irvinder Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), June 03, 2010, 9:07 AM.
Great. What happened to the other sikhchic.com poet, Michele? Her views on June 2010 would be welcome.
2: Inni Kaur (Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.), June 03, 2010, 9:13 AM.
It is June again ... and I will not forget. With every breath, With all my strength, I will rebuild my nation. It is June again ... and I remember ...
3: H.S. (New York, U.S.A.), June 03, 2010, 11:40 AM.
June maheenaa fer ik chaRReyaa/ Yaad fer aj aayi nee maaye/ Saade tey jo kehar guzreyaa/ Akhaan saahve leyayi nee maaye/ Nahee bhulNNee saanoo oh churaasee/ Saare dukh bhul jaaNNge!
4: Sonia Kaur Dhami (Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.), June 03, 2010, 11:46 AM.
Soul stirring ...
5: Harsimran Singh (Union City, California, U.S.A.), June 03, 2010, 3:14 PM.
Nice. The last half really shows the Sikh spirit.
6: Sanmeet Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), June 03, 2010, 4:42 PM.
Paatth, ardaas, shukar ... In remembrance ... for it's June again.
7: N. Singh (Canada), June 03, 2010, 6:40 PM.
It is June again and we Sikhs are once again united through a shared experience, and will remain so until the end of time ... and yet why is it that during these moments that I feel alone in my own agony? Thank you for sharing!
8: Claudia Gaspar (Sao Paulo, Brazil), June 03, 2010, 6:44 PM.
Gurmeet Kaur is a true example of renaissance in the Sikh diaspora. Women like her will prevent another 'Operation Blue Star' from taking place. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale entered the pantheon of Sikh heroes and his ideals are those embraced by the Sikh sangat at all times. 'In a blessed falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest unto Thy departed servant and make his memory to be eternal!' [Eastern Orthodox Church chant].
9: Kulbir Singh (Sydney, Australia), June 03, 2010, 7:37 PM.
Thank you, Gurmeet Kaur ji, for your beautiful verses written with your kirpan. Revive each body, rejuvenate each soul with Sat Sri Akal jaikaras Bol Bol/ Multiplying sava lakh times, injecting the Sikhi spirit/ To defend the honour until the last breath remains/ It's June again.
10: Mlle. S. (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), June 03, 2010, 11:35 PM.
Child by child, womb by womb, the spirit and soul of the panth will live on. Live, thrive, grow, and prosper. Every Sikh child is a living monument to those who gave their last breath on those terrible June days. May Waheguru bless all the little souls, born and unborn, who strengthen the Khalsa.
11: Kanwaljit Kaur (New South Wales, Australia), June 05, 2010, 9:05 AM.
Touches my heart. Sad memories. Thank you, Gurmeet Kaur ji, for such a beautiful poem and others. Rabb Rakha!
12: Selva (Malaysia), July 02, 2010, 3:08 AM.
A very spirited poem.
13: Gay Odmark (Ketchum, Idaho, U.S.A.), June 03, 2012, 10:31 PM.
Gurmeet is so inspirational and relentless in her driving the point home that we are all capable of doing something good all the time. I loved the poetry, it was very moving. We know that we must never accept persecution and hate or hide those who perpetuate it. I would like to know what the Indian government is doing to stop this. Do the Sikhs have a grassroots movement within India?
14: Ramneet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), June 21, 2012, 5:18 PM.
Excruciating pain is reflected in the poem. It's a very inspiring poem as well.