I Will Not Open My Windows

“In the forest of my sacred land

There will be only one kind of tree

The Ficus Religiosa, my favorite tree

Won’t it be nice and tidy?

To have only one kind of tree

All lined and planted at equal distance

Like our soldiers ready for a parade!

All other trees of other species

I will cut down;
their saplings I will uproot!

I’ll keep only one kind of flower

In my flower garden,

The only flower I like to see blooming

Flowers of other species I’ll not tolerate

Even if they sprout naturally in the soil!

Won’t it be thrilling to my eyes to see

My desired kind of flower in my land?

I’ll arrange the flower beds, as I wish

And the pools in my garden, as I want.

I hate varieties and diversities!

I hear people say, “Variety is the flavor of life.”

Pure humbug and falsehood!

Only one kind of food all my life.

I will dress  myself in only one kind of linen

I’ll keep in my mind
only my kind of thoughts

No, I’ll not open my windows.

Winds will bring different thoughts

Than what I hold close to my chest.

Winds blowing in from other climates
My nose abhors them
They stink like rotten garbage

No, don’t tell me to open my windows.

I will not, for all the black money

Returned to the treasury!

Xavier Bage

Fri, 24 November 2017