Vivekanand
Jha is a poet and scholar from India. By way of introduction, he uses
these words: “Dear Friend, I am not a prolific bard; I have something
to say, though I’m nothing more than a singing bird, hungry to coin a
word and live by pen and not the sword.” Vivekanand’s heartfelt poem
seems chosen by cosmic design at this time of sheer devastation in
Haiti.
Hands Heave to Harm and Hamper
By Vivekanand Jha
Our hands heave
To harm and hamper,
Not to help and heal.
Not to assist
The damsel in distress
Not to ease
The woes of widows
Not to prohibit
Abusive child labor
Not to curb
Prevailing poverty
What relief we might feel
If we taught our hands to help and heal.