For the protesters of Taksim square.
street lamps are falling
in Taksim square
sepia grass sold
young hearts remain,
becoming soot to catch light.
hundreds flock
muslims christians and freethinkers,
black-brown haired heads cluster
they shout demand sing,
lemons and vinegar
water and face masks
cotton clothes and skins,
are wood uniforms.
faces around faces
eyes and noses,
sweat
the saliva of pepper rain;
a friend I’ve never met
in tears in the crowd.
I sent her few thoughts,
impervious raincoats
plenty I’ve held.
they’re all in tears,
their laughter torn;
new malls
to sell them new.
Sumeet Grover
Sumeet Grover is the founder of Global Poetry, dedicated to creativity, human dignity, dialogue and global citizenship. He is a winner of the Portico Brotherton Open Poetry Prize 2014 and was shortlisted for the Jane Martin Poetry Prize in 2014 & 2015. He has authored three books of poetry: Signals (2017), House Arrest & Disobedience (2015) and Change (2011). Grover is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment.