Kashmir

What was that cry? Was it man, woman, an angel or a god who keened thus, who howled just so? Could any human voice make such a desolate noise?

Who lit that fire? Who burned that orchard? Who shot those brothers who laughed their lives long? Who killed the sarpanch? Who broke his hands? Who broke his arms? Who broke his ancient neck? Who shackled those men? Who made those men disappear? Who shot those boys? Who shot those girls? Who smashed that house,...... and that house,...who smashed THAT house? Who killed that youth? Who clubbed that grandmother? Who knifed that aunt? Who broke that old mans nose? Who broke that young girl's heart? Who killed that lover? Who shot his fiance? Who burned the costumes? Who broke the swords? Who burned the library? Who burned the saffron field? Who slaughtered the animals? Who burned the beehives? Who poisoned the fields? Who killed the children? Who whipped the parents? Who raped the lazy eyed woman? Who raped that gray haired lazy eyed woman as she screamed about snake vengance? Who raped that woman again? Who raped that dead woman? Who raped that dead woman again?..........

- Shalimar the clown (S.Rushdie-2005)