Shadows of a Fractured World

A Poem by Javed Jiskani Baloch @JJ Baloch

Darkness dances on the corps of love,

Where once affection thrived, now bereft.

Despair overwhelms positive energy,

A tempest of hope, cruelly swept.

The soul appears addicted, burning to ashes,

Consumed by anguish, relentless and cruel.

Brilliance fails, leading to dawn’s demise,

As aspirations falter, trapped in a duel.

Nights of unease mock the feeble light,

No solace found in the depths of despair.

No door to taking spiritual asylum,

A fractured existence, beyond repair.

Markets of sympathy cease selling forgiveness,

Their wares replaced with indifference’s disguise.

Industries of humanity bear a heavy price,

Mercy’s value lost, as compassion dies.

The business of indifference thrives and prospers,

Trading empathy for apathy’s cold embrace.

The commerce of happiness records its dooms,

As joy withers, swallowed by a void in space.

The world welcomes traders of luxury and booms,

Material wealth becoming the ultimate goal.

Society celebrates the arrival of emotionless robots,

Humanity’s essence erased, an ominous toll.

In this shadowed realm, where love decays,

And souls are shackled by a desolate fate,

We must strive to reclaim what’s been lost,

To rekindle compassion, before it’s too late.

EXPLANATION

In this poem, the author presents a critique of a world that has lost its connection to love, compassion, and genuine human emotions. The poem explores themes of darkness, despair, indifference, and the erosion of positive energy. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, the author conveys a sense of a fractured society where human values and emotions are disregarded or replaced by materialistic pursuits.

The title, “Shadows of a Fractured World,” sets the tone for the poem and foreshadows the somber and critical nature of the content to follow. It suggests that the world portrayed in the poem is broken and marred by darkness.

The poem begins with the line “Darkness dances on the corps of love,” which immediately establishes a sense of loss and decay. It suggests that love, which should be vibrant and life-giving, has been overshadowed and extinguished. This sets the stage for the subsequent exploration of despair and the overwhelming presence of negative emotions.

The author emphasizes the addictive nature of despair, describing the soul as burning to ashes. This portrays a sense of hopelessness and a cycle of self-destruction. The failure of brilliance to lead to dawn further emphasizes the deep-seated despair and the absence of positive change or progress.

The poem then shifts focus to the societal level, highlighting the mocking of light by the nights of unease. This suggests a lack of respite from the prevailing darkness and the absence of spiritual asylum or solace. The author criticizes the markets of sympathy, which stop selling forgiveness, indicating a decline in empathy and the devaluation of compassion in the world.

The subsequent lines draw attention to the heavy price paid for humanity and mercy, contrasting them against the thriving business of indifference. This critique highlights the societal priorities that prioritize profit and self-interest over empathy and kindness. The commerce of happiness recording dooms further underscores the consequences of this trade-off, as genuine joy and contentment are lost in the pursuit of material wealth.

The poem concludes with a bleak portrayal of a world where society celebrates the arrival of emotionless robots. This suggests a society that has willingly embraced a detached and robotic existence, devoid of genuine human connection and emotion.

Overall, the author uses vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and a critical tone to convey a sense of concern and lamentation for a world that has lost its connection to love, compassion, and the beauty of genuine human emotions. The poem serves as a call to action, urging readers to reflect on the consequences of indifference and materialism and to strive for a more empathetic and compassionate society.

Jiskani Javed is an Author, Writer, Scholar, Novelist, Poet, Educator, Mentor, and a Senior Police Officer–DIG at Police Service of Pakistan