PASSAGE

Onward they came
With songs of freedom
“Mark the tree for others to know we were here”
They said.

The land was wild
Grasses grew tall
Tuoichawng went to war
Heads were hung high.

A world tree was planted.

Was it war?
Was it famine?
Was it black magic?
Was it betrayal?

A city in ruins
The children of Manmasi stirred
Along the river they go
With destiny unknown.

The white cock crowed
“It is good”
Mumbled the wizened old men
The brook was cleansed.

The new land was settled
Grasses grew tall
The sheaves heavy with their goodness
The children of Manmasi rejoiced.

Ambitions clashed
Hatred and mistrust hung heavy
Brothers fell upon brothers
Cries of pain and sorrows drowned.

Along came the Saviour
Songs were sung in His praise
A world was opened
Hrang ceased his cry.

Heads replaced by men’s souls
Machetes by the pen
Clan by the group
A nation was born!

It’s now more than a hundred years since.

Upon the hills and vales
Hrang raised a cry
The children of Manmasi in chaos
Cries of pain, sorrows and losses drowned.

Brothers killing brothers
"Its patriotism" says one
"It cannot be avoided" mumbles another
Hatred and mistrust abounds.

Will He come again?
"Because we disowned Him
It’s been ages since He was gone"
My mom answered.

Immanuel Zarzosang Varte
20th June 2014