ALL SUFFER AS SOME ARE HOLY

Keshava Rao

Holy Ganga plunders all
The greatness of simple water;
Holy religions abuse all
The greatness of simple humans.
Highly holy tragedies are these
For Ganga, humans, and all.
Many cruel miseries everyone suffers,
As religions claim some things are holy,
And each declares itself most holy.

Love suffers as marriage is holy.
Marriage suffers as wedding is holy.
Brides suffer as dowry is holy.
Couples suffer as husbands are holy.
Babies suffer as sons are holy.
All suffer as some are holy.

Humans suffer as males are holy.
Cows suffer as cows are holy.
The sick suffer as plagues are holy.
The innocent suffer as temples are holy.
The needy suffer as charity is holy.
All suffer as some are holy.

The present suffers as the past is holy.
People suffer as the country is holy.
Purpose suffers as rituals are holy.
Truth suffers as scriptures are holy.
Knowledge suffers as knowledge is holy.
All suffer as some are holy.

Humanity suffers as religions are holy.
Religion suffers as castes are holy.
God suffers as gods are holy.
Gods suffer as priests are holy.
Poor sinners suffer as rich worship is holy.
Whole missions suffer as the muhurta is holy.
Whole lives one suffers, as the birth-time is holy.

While rational humans weep for the victims,
The holy of holies revel in glory.
A much more sinister tragedy there is:
Wars are holy, but not so peace.
Many tongues of God have proclaimed these.
Many songs of God have declaimed these.

About the Author: Dr. Keshava Rao was a retired computer scientist and a well-known Kannada essayist. He was a founding member and treasurer of Vicharavadi Sangha, Bangalore (Bangalore Rationalist Association).