Ladies and Gentlemen

Boys and Girls

Dogs and Deities

 

It is a real privilege to be invited to give a speech at such a grand, global gathering. This is me—

 

Breaking the fourth wall

To discourse. To disclose. To devastate.

To talk to you all

About my deepest, darkest intention to eradicate

 

But the question to ask: who am I

Am I the God who is in control

With paint brushes in hand, to unify

Some 2000 individuals into a whole

 

Or am I, the poor presenter

Who destroyed the last speech I gave

And the one I was starting to deliver

Was well-laid in the grave

 

A stopper was put, in the middle of the gathering

But I am not at all upset

Old beliefs are shattering

Phoenixes rise only from the ashes, I bet

 

I am the poet

And this is my first attempt at rhyme

I decided to give up

To give in

To put down my pen

In a rush

In anger. In hope.

 

Written on 27 September 2020

In response to N.S. Harsha's Come Give Us a Speech