447

447

'fore '47 my father was Indian

And his fathers ages before him

Now they shred us

Into a thousand tribes

And a hundred shades

Between black and white

Columbus sailed to plunder India

But found West-Indians instead

Europeans invaded Indians

In both hemispheres

And natives were made to change

Natives and Indians are all the same

We still share our roots and a name
   When the link is forged
          Our global circle will emerge
                Standing face to face
          With our commanding surrogate parents
     We will be honored
We will make it a sensible place

'fore Pakistan my father was Indian                             

And his fore fathers ages 'fore him

(by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan)

1-15-99