Poems
The best moment of a caged bird is getting its freedom.
ONE SILENT NIGHT
The wind is blowing to one side
Where it touches my body
I feel just like in heaven
Suddenly I opened my eyes and look around
Oh GOD I am behind the fence
Still filled with unhappiness
I would like to fly just like a bird
But I know I can not
God created this world for every one
But some people try to destroy it
And some people try to keep it for their own way
Why do they keep on behaving like that
I need a new world to live
I want different skies every day
Can I live with out fear of war and terror
Could my dream come true one day
In my child hood I thought
I was the luckiest person in the world
Because my life was secure
Now I think, I am the unluckiest person in the world
Surrounded by people with no love
Ramesh (detainee at Baxter from Sri Lanka)
About my life
When I was born to this world
I thought every one was the same
But now I'm thinking
That was someone else life
Because some people try to separate the world.
In the beginning you could live where you liked.
Can you live anywhere you like now?
No you can not.
So what's happening to the world?
Where is the progress?
All places are divided by some one.
Why did they do this?
Because all of them are greedy for power
Is this the way you think
Why don't you like us to stay?
Because you don't like to share
Or you don't like to give to others
Well, when you share you will be surprised.
Ramesh
My true tears
Every morning you see
The sunrise and sunset,
But for me
Every day is sunset
Sun also don't wish to see us like this.
If he have the power to release us
He will do it within one second.
He use to see our sorrowful eyes
He wants to show his grief
But he couldn't.
Only he can cry with the vast noises
If the sun understand about me
What's happen to the peoples
In the world?
When will you get to understand
About my sadness and grief?
Maybe I can be in the cemetery.
Ramesh
A LONELY LIFE
I looked in the sky above the wire
I looked in around the world
But I can't find a true man.
I don't know what's happened to the people.
All are not criminals on the inside.
Are all on the outside criminals?
Or are they good humans who act like prisoners.
Can you give me a proper answer to that?
Did the GOD create the world?
Or does human being create the world?
I don't know who ever it is
Or from whom can I ask it?
Does the human come from the monkey
Or does the monkey come from the human?
Am I relative to the monkey or a man
Or am I just treated like a monkey?
These words are true
My heart is also like a child .
You have to believe all these
You do once you visit !
Ramesh
A SUDDEN CRY OF PAIN
Every day the sun is rising up
but we are in position
that can't be rise up
can you imagine what it is?
I like to see the world
but I know that I can't
can you tell me about the world
do the people treat you well enough
Every bird has feathers
so they fly around the world
my great GOD gave me eyes to see the world
but my eyes were covered by someone
I have two legs to walk
but it is bound by someone
I would like to walk as a free man
but I don't know if my dream will come true or not
Can you understand a person
some times he has a smile in his face
but you don't know what kind of problem
he has inside because of this tears fall from my eyes.
Ramesh
A TRUE QUESTION FOR YOU
Human being is the God of the world
Human being is the animal of the world
Are you a God or animal?
In which group do you sit with?
Can you understand a human?
Have you got that brilliant ability?
If you have that ability why don't you understand the human?
If you don't have that ability
Why don't you try to understand them?
If we were born to this world
We have to die one day - that is the reality.
Do you think that you are not going to die?
If you think that you will die one day
So why are you greedy for the power?
Every one lives in this world in a certain period
Why can't we live together as a family?
If you do that you go to the heaven.
Act like a perfect human.
TRY TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS
AND LIVE LIKE A FAMILY!
Ramesh
IN MY WORLD
My heart is running
My mind is breaking
I'm totally desperate about these things
Do you feel my heart
No you can't
Because you are living in one world
I'm in another world, in my world
I see the same things because
I am trapped in one place
But in your world
You can see various types of things
Because you are free to see and feel
Humankind Is an inventor
If anything happens to his invention
He takes immediate action to protect and repair
He a/ways finds out the problems
Where it occurs
If a human can understand his creations
Why isn't he able to understand feelings
Have you ever been to the prison or detainee centre
Or have you ever spoken with a prisoner or detainee
Sometime he might have done wrong things
Sometime he hasn't done wrong things
But don't you think
He also has feelings same like you
And also likes to feel and see the outside of the world
Actually you can't understand our feelings
Because you are in a one world
We are in another
That is the reality
That is happening in our worlds.
Ramesh
IN YOUR LIFE
In your childhood
Your parents told you what to do
In your school time
Your teacher told you what to do
In your teenage time
Your friend told you what to do
In your friendship time
Your friends told me what to do
After your school time
Society told me what to do
When you are sad
Your girlfriend told you what to do
When you are sick
The doctor told you what to do
In your job the boss told you what to do
In your marriage
Your husband or wife told you what to do
After you had children
You told them what to do
After you got old
Your God told you what to do
After you are dead
Who told you what to do
In the Detention Centre
The ACM told you what to do
Being a DIMA manager Canberra told you what to do
THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Ramesh
My Freedom
Where is my love
Where is my freedom
Where is my happiness
it is bound in a one place
In that place
I have only the sadness
Sadness is my daily bread
However I must have it.
Is this your affection on us
I'm a human same like you
My feelings and my blood colour is same like you.
Are you able to take my position
Only just for one night
One day is same like a one year for me
You will get understanding
One day if you come by to my place.
Who can help me
Who can understand me
Who can love me
None!
Because you are blind.
Ramesh
THINK THIS
If a human is born to this world
Is he related only to his birth place
Or is he related only to his family
Or can he stay any place
Where he would like to be
No he can't
Because everyone is greedy for their place and power
Is this a thing started by the people or by the animals
Animals are likely to act like this
But unfortunately some people act just like an animal
So, are you to be an animal or a man?
If anyone can ask you who started this
No one can give a proper answer to this question
Some might say it was started by animals
Some might say it was the creator
But who knows who started it?
All our world is covered by the sea
Who knows what can happen to us in the next minute
So why can't we stay like a small family
If you think about this first
Your partner will be able to think after you
Then the next generation will think about this
So after that perhaps we can live together as one.
Ramesh
PEACE
Peace is a very nice word.
It is clean, like a feather, light like the moon, and calm like the night.
How good it would be if all the people around the world could live in peace.
I didn't see peace in my country, but I heard about it. I know what it means.
I am surprised when I see people living in peace.
Whenever I see them, I say to myself, 'How lucky they are!'
At that time, I pray to God and say that I hope peace will come to my country too, because I am a girl who has never spent her life in peace, like millions of girls in my country, Afghanistan.
Since then I have seen people with problems and I have seen people die in front of me without any reason.
I have seen children lose their parents, I have seen women become widows and I have seen houses destroyed.
I saw war in my country all the time and I never heard any good news there. That is why I abhor that kind of life.
Afghanistan's girls also want to fulfil their dreams and live in a peaceful place like others do.
We want a bright future and to live the way we want as women.
It is our right but unfortunately we don't have any rights in Afghanistan.
I hope that peace will come to Afghanistan and that all women will be able to fulfil their hopes.
Geeta (Woomera detainee)
A SEA STORY
Happy are those who feel the need for God. The angels in heaven will watch over them.
Our worn out ship was sailing on an endless ocean towards Australia. We were passengers, each one with an interesting story from their past.
We felt that God was with us and in each cell of our body.
The ship disturbed the tranquillity of the sea with its noisy engine. Even the fish seemed to be surprised about us being aboard.
Then there was the unpleasant news that our water was running out and the ship's rudder had broken.
The passengers became restless and impatient as the weather became warmer. Drinking water was distributed and the people raised their hands in prayer.
God was with us and because of our need we felt close to him.
There was an old man sitting calmly in the corner and staring at some point on the boat. Maybe he was thinking about his wife and children who did not have a guardian or maybe he was thinking about death.
A child took the old man's water bottle and, in a confused state, the old man took it back. But then he hugged the child and held the water bottle to the mouth of the child.
What a beautiful moment living by the golden rule to love others. You must do the same thing to others, as you would want them to do to you.
I no longer insisted on looking after my water ration. The engine sound was now like the best music. I took my own water bottle and approached the old man. I did not say a word nor did he say anything. He sipped and smiled, his eyes were shining-perhaps he was thinking of his children.
Then the commotion on board increased and a boat came toward us. Yes, we were saved. The old man laughed and kissed the young child slowly. 'My wife and children will sleep comfortably because we are alive,' he said.
Happy are those who mourn because they will be comforted and happy are those who are kind and forgiving because they will receive forgiveness from others.
Hajatollah (still a detainee after nearly four years at Woomera and Baxter)
The best moment of a caged bird is getting its freedom.
Oh, my God, I beseech and call on you from the whirlpool of sorrows to hear my voice and listen to my groaning and assist my wife.
The flute of my mind is blowing
The world is rocking
Is it a creature that is blowing?
So who am I?
I heard clapping upon the sky.
Javad
Five Star Hell
I dreamt I lived in a 2 star shack,
And "Freedom" was its name;
It was at the end of a well-worn track,
With a dozen, much the same.
And my daughter laughed as she ran around,
Looking for shiny stones;
And she laughed for joy at what she found,
A pebble and some old bleached bones.
My heart was full as we watched the sun,
Over the horizon fall;
And we all held hands and felt as one,
As we sat on the old stone wall.
The cruelest part is when you awake,
To the sound of the prison bell;
And wonder if this is the day you'll break,
In Baxter 5 star Hell.
Allan Nield November 4th 2002 (a visitor to Baxter and friend of detainees)
NO BEER
No beer. Fuzzy television
Shared with lots of others, and noise.
Each day the same as the last one.
Each day the same as the next one.
No sunrise, no sunset to see.
Asking for every little thing.
Crowded with many others.
With only men -no families
Or lots of babies and children.
Nothing to do, no future plans.
Life is too hard, we are tired.
We try to smile, try to keep strong.
Two years, four years, will we die here?
We are the young Australia needs.
But government we thought would help
Says illegals and queue jumpers,
Ungrateful, criminal, a threat,
Says go home but where is our home?
Visit us in the detention camp
And see for yourself the wasted lives.
We are ordinary humans
Like you.
Nancy Cooper Jan 2003 (a friend of Baxter detainees)
Boat people
These boat people are poor, God
driven by desperation,
leaving homelands to avoid persecution
torture
death
they find themselves
not in the paradise they expect
but in a hell
of another kind
They look for a welcome and understanding
but horror after horror
greets them
Their vision of a land
large with opportunity
diminishes with the wire
which encloses them
Day by day hope slips
from hands which had been eager
from eyes which had been bright
from hearts which had beat strongly
Instead of a canvas
glowing with colours of newness
their eyes are reduced
to shadows of darkness
grim angles
sharp lines
Bewilderment grows
till the pain of their plight
explodes in frantic fear
as they struggle
against the terror
of these new bonds
The wheels grind deliberately slowly
and only words of life
of comfort
of encouragement
from a compassionate soul
bring balm
to crushed despair
God, in this darkness
please shine your light
Break down the walls
of destruction and repression
Cause stone hearts
to be softened
and frozen indifference melted
by the warmth
of your mercy
Bring healing to desert sorrow
Anna Johnstone, NZ (written on a visit to Australia in July 2003)
ENOUGH !
Consider little Johnny
Coward
For poor Johnny joins the lolly boys
behind that big Bush
at the bottom of the global playground
and plots with the bullies with the boys toys
to overthrow truth, justice,
and ain't it the American way
I mean to say Australian way
"A fair go for all"
is all he needs to say
for talk-back hosts are cheap enough
~ and poisonous rhetoric is opiate for the people,- opiate enough!
"Queue jumpers" he calls them,
then makes them jump
bureaucratic bars
through hoola hoops with cattle prods
though seldom high enough
As once prodded and pumped
he jumped so high
in that playground of privileged elitism
and mums and dads bred for the right stuff
cheered from the sidelines
but were never loud enough
~ for playground politics breeds them tough
And little Johnny Coward
still rules the bottom of our global playground
courageously wielding his mighty sword
against the homeless, tortured, oppressed
against "them" - those not like us
- you know, - those hordes
of despairing widows and orphans
those kids who came from the wrong school
at the wrong time and on the wrong bus
But poor Johnny cannot see above his playground walls
of border protection
(you know those walls that keep shifting)
Nor hear beyond the cheering noise of talk-back press
through padded walls that imprison minds and silence
the sounds of children crying in the desert...
of people listening, people freely thinking
- the sounds of politics shifting
~ Apparently pen is even mightier than sword..
and enough is enough!
Elizabeth Ruth Lyons December 2003