She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore. Why?!

“I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquillity will return once more.”

-Anne Frank

From a very early age, as we studied and mastered the English Language, wrestling with the decision of following American English or UK English, we have crossed paths with this tongue twister, either in school or at home, aimed at developing speech and improving pronunciations.

There could be various reasons for using this phrase. There is a calming effect when you imagine a girl handing out sea shells on the sea shore. It is very easy to understand and wrap your mind around the fact that someone would actually do that, like who hasn’t dreamed of having a sea shell collection.

This phrase was a game, bringing happy memories back now and then. It was a time where none of us thought twice about the phrase, or the implications or how did she have time to open a sea shell shop.

It was a time before we knew the demand supply scenario for Sea Shells, the profitability, capital to be invested, storage costs, rent, salaries, projected cash flows, and marketing for such a business to be successful.

If you think logically, it wouldn’t be very lucrative selling something which is freely available around you. We laugh at that phrase nowadays because it seems silly and a waste of time.

As we grow up, our brains begin thinking more logically, more economically, and more rationally, and we wonder if its worth our time. Now this phrase is meaningless, and attracts mockery when said allowed, destroying the tranquillity it once gave us when we were little.

It would be nice to go back to that time, and not over analyse every little thing, and just let them be, for what they are, and the comfort they provide.

ALAS! Things were so much simpler back then.

How To Save A Life.

“But faith like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope.” – Moby Dick, or, The Whale.

He walks into a little grocery store,
Looking suspiciously over his shoulder,
If he’s being followed keeping his head down, his spirit getting bolder.

He goes straight to the counter,
Without buying a single thing,
Approaches the lady standing there,
Who was in charge of the billing.

Removing the pistol,
And points it at her face,
‘Give me all your money’,
‘Thieving’, she thought, just another human disgrace.

From behind came her 5 year old daughter,
As sweet as a song.
Looks at the man and the pistol,
‘Mommy is there something wrong?’

The man looked at the girl,
And with watery eyes muttered,’Please’,
She suddenly understood, her defiant face turning to one of pity,
‘I guess I could give you a lease’.

He was given whatever was in the till,
It certainly wasn’t his fair share.
He rushed out onto the street,
‘Sir! Drop the gun and put your hands in the air!’

Time was running out,
He couldn’t stop now.
He turned and began to run,
Shots fired by an officer callow.

The officer approached the suspect with caution,
As if he could run anymore,
Looked into the pained man’s eyes,
Trying the avoid the blood and gore.

And in his dying breaths he managed a whisper,
To the officer he said,
‘Wallet…address…heart medicine…buy…my daughter sweet,
If you don’t, like me, she’ll be dead.

We are only human,
Susceptible to fear and pain.
The ways of the world, problems of life,
But there is much learn and gain.

Taha Sheerazi

Tidal Sensation.

Sand between my toes,
Shades on my eyes,
Flaunting my imaginary six packs,
I walked along the beach, looking back at my tracks.

The gentle waves,
Pushed against the shore,
Creating a frothy foam,
Around which, little crabs roam.

Ah, the shells,
Poke at my feet,
In all different shapes and sizes,
A collection you can never beat.

In the distance,
The waves keep coming,
Close to 15 feet high,
To every surfers delight, they go in running.

The heat is killing,
But the sea just as cool,
While Apollo and Poseidon,
Fight like fools.

At the horizon,
The most beautiful sight,
Dusk brings forth red, orange, and yellow,
An array of colors in all its might.

The sea is promiscuous,
Mischievously so,
Frolic in the shallows,
Don’t wander too far from shore.

The sea is so enticing,
And for I’d gladly take a knee,
For in all your glory, you will never know,
How much I love thee.

Taha Sheerazi

Islam and Terrorism. Peace and Chaos. #peshawarpain

For many people, Islam, terrorism and Muslims fall in the same basket. Who can blame them? With the recent terror attacks and killings and the workings of ISIS(Islamic state of Iraq and Syria), everyone would look over their shoulder in a public place.

After the attacks on Mumbai, which took pace on the 26th of November, 2008, nothing was the same. 12 terrorists unleashed havoc in the worlds busiest and most crowded city.
The city of dreams people called it, where dreams were came true or they were shattered. On 26th November, the city was brought to its knees by 12 terrorists, all from Lashkar-E-Tayaba, a terror outfit in Pakistan.
After that day, I’ve never felt safe. Sitting in a bus I’d check under the seats for anything suspicious. Paranoia crept in. Distances which I could walk, I walked. I avoided trains and buses. I’d use taxis but I was still paranoid as the gunmen had left 40 kilos of RDX in cab as they got off. It exploded later killing dozens of people. The master mind behind the attacks Hafiz Saeed still roams freely in Pakistan and delivers sermons and speeches to the public like a common politician.
The recent hostage situation in Sydney also shocked the world. A nation that prided itself when it came to peace was rocked to its core. Had ISIS spread to the developed countries?
The terrorist was an Iranian by the name of Man Haron Monis. He was gunned down after 16 hours and the whole incident claimed two lives. Two lives lost. A small number compared to the number of people who die everyday in the middle east and Pakistan due to terrorism.
Another incident that happened around the same time was the hostage situation in the working class district of Dampoort in Ghent, Belgium. Later, it was declared that they weren’t actually terrorists and it was relating to a quarrel involving drugs. In my mind, I was mildly surprised that they weren’t jihadists. Why was I surprised? Every terror incident I saw included Islamic extremists. Was that how I saw my religion? The fact that I was even surprised horrified me. Every day they tarnish the Islamic faith and misinterpret the meaning of jihad. So much so that I was scared to call myself a Muslim in front of new people.
But then again, life goes on.
On Tuesday, a school in Peshawar was attacked. Children, women and people were killed. Why should I bifurcate? Shouldn’t I just say people were killed?
No. Children. Lives nipped in the bud. They are the one thing that every parent cares about. They are a mother’s dream. They are the future. We see joy and love in them. A mother prays that her child will grow up and be successful.

More than 130 children lost their lives on that fateful day. More than a hundred families mourned their death. No, the world mourns their death. Lives destroyed. Dreams shattered. Family’s torn apart. Futures destroyed. No parent should bury their own child. How much pain can the world bear. Haven’t we had enough?

“My child was my dream. And now my dream has been taken away from me. I have no one left.” The words of a mother as she buried her 8 year old son.
“He left in a uniform in the morning, now he returns in a coffin. Allah how can you allow this!” Words of a devastated father as he is informed about the fate of his 11 year old son.

There used to be a time when any kind of blast or terror activity was given in the front page of a newspaper. Now it rarely makes the 3rd page and is crammed into the side on the latter pages. It falls under the heading of “In Other news” nowadays. Have we become that indifferent? That heartless? That weak? That scared?
We could blame Pakistan for not taking a stronger stand against terrorism. We could blame the USA for facilitating the birth of the Taliban and the AL Qaeda. But to what end? What’s done is done. What can we do for peace? How can we achieve the human part in humanity?
Most of the terror groups are now rallying to ISIS. Their numbers are in the thousands. Everyone nation is on the alert because they feel vulnerable. Where were they when the atrocities were committed in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Does it take the death of thousands of people to open the world’s eyes? Pakistani, Indian, American, British, Iranian, Chinese, or Arabian. It doesn’t matter who we are. Nations despise each other for trivial things, when a common enemy exists. We are human. We have a heart. A heart capable of many things. And it beats for those lives lost, families destroyed and dreams torn apart. Feel their pain. Their grief. Their helplessness. We aren’t there yet. But we could be tomorrow. Let’s be vigilant. Let’s spread peace. Let’s make this world a better place.

Taha Sheerazi

Fusion.

Should I compare you to a summer’s breeze?
Even though you’re more of a temperate storm.
Or maybe to the sweet spring in which asthmatics wheeze?
But you may be the autumn wind that tears the leaves off from the trees so that new ones may be born.
May I compare you to the eye opening painful drought,
But you may be the cold wet rains giving a few some or the other reason to complain about.
Or the beautiful cold winter with its snowcapped peaks and frost.
I may have run out of seasons to describe you, but without you, I’m truly lost.

Taha Sheerazi