Who will rebuild our cities?
Our homes are gone.
Our bakeries are gone, and so are our hospitals.
Our markets are gone and so are our graveyards.
Our orchards and fields are gone.
Our playgrounds and streets are gone.
Entire neighbourhoods are gone.
And so are our neighbours.
Our schools are gone.
And so are our children.
Our children are gone.
So who will rebuild our cities?
Now that our children are gone.
And who should we rebuild our cities for?
Now that our children are gone.
Tasneem Khan lives in Bengaluru. Her work has been featured in Madras Courier and Poetry Breakfast. She is a part of the Bangalore Writers Workshop community.