Early this morning
Waking up in despair
That it is Eid today
Have not heard from them in a week
The first message in my inbox
From a friend who I know from a while
How much is land in Srinagar?
Why, do you want to settle there?
To have a garden
Since I know Kashmir from movies
I would like to visit the place without tension
We were also told it’s not safe
I was lost for words and didn’t say much
Got me thinking is it for real
Sounds like we are for sale
But wait
We have no worth
It is all about the land
Now that it is anexed
And the barbarians are tamed
And the less harmful are caged
The chinars are still green
With the snowy peaks standing tall
The sweet water of Brengi
And the houseboats of Dal Jheel
How much is land in Srinagar?
Have not heard from them in a week