A Tree of Water

Ifti Nasim November 4, 1998

Tags: God

Matthew Shepard was beaten, maimed, burned and killed because he was gay. This poem was written to protest against this atrocity

You asked for a rose

But you did not know

A stranger could have a knife

Instead.

What were you thinking?

When they were tying you down

Like a Jew in a Nazi camp.

Were you feeling any pain

When they were skinning you

Or you were just numb?

Were you crying and pleading

From

href="/tag/God">God who made you

Different?

Were they thinking

That you were a child of

A lesser god.

Were they burning you

Or fumigating you?

Centuries of hatred toward you

Was finally exhibited

And we all were standing there

Like Venus de Milo

They pecked at your eyes

Like vultures

Because the dream in your eyes

Had not been the same

What they had.

To be different or to be a minority

Is not a crime

Then why they

Tried to annihilate you.

Why was the Wyoming sky grayer

And darker this year than usual?

Why did the snow fall early

On the ground this year?

What was the crime that God was trying to cover

With shame.

Matthew,

You did not die in vain.

Wherever the drop of your blood fell

A tree of water will blossom

Which will wash away all the hatred

From hearts

For each other.

Ifti writes in three languages, English, Urdu and Punjabi. He is the author of three books in Urdu, Ghazaal, Narman and Ek thi Larki. An English poetry book In the Anthill of my Mind is soon to be published.

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