The recent terrorist atrocities in Mumbai have caused grief for many. The following poem was sent to us by Mala Vazirani, written by Mala's daughter Niharikaa, aged 17. Niharikaa has not been able to sleep properly since the attacks.

Can You Sleep?

Can you sleep?
You hear gunshots in places you had dinner last week,
From a window,
you see blood leak.
You hear live gunshots, explosions and screams.
Outside your window,
you see commandos and army trucks pass by,
you feel like it's a movie,
but what you're seeing is reality.
Can you sleep?
You see "fresh blood stains" on TV,
And you're thinking, "it could've been me".
You see babies being rescued,
you see eye-witnesses breaking down,
and then you see politicians do nothing but frown.
Can you sleep?
While you're listening to the sound of an innocent cry,
"many more will die",
are the healing words of a terrorist.
I ask you,
can you sleep?
While you hear of the coming hurricane in the next year or two,
you hear a new born baby coo,
and you're wondering why he was ever born,
will he ever see the brightest morn?
Can you sleep?
While people are killed,
with joy, some hearts are filled.
The earth cracks,
The earth is famished,
The earth is parched,
Bombs explode,
Animosity grows,
The blame flies around,
Bodies fall to the ground,
Can you sleep?
In the midst of this reality,
you see politicians asking for votes,
trying to win you with their flowery quotes;
I don't ask you if you can sleep,
I now ask you,
Should you sleep?

Niharikaa Vazirani
29th November 2008