A common space for harmonic peacemakers

Canadian Anthazia Kadir Says that “Afzal Shauq…is… The Peace Wisher.”

Bridging differences is one of the most difficult sorts of construction there is, no matter how hard we try- it seems that there is never enough cement to withstand the weight of its contents. No one wants to be wrong, accept their dogmatic attitudes, and be humbled. We all want to always be right.

Afzal Shauq languages for us in this poetry, a sort of pending and suspicious desire we all have for world peace. Quoting from Afzal Shauq’s poem- “A strange Peace” “all these men claim answers for the world’s ills……their idealism often reborn in others” Afzal Shauq’s poetry most definitely forges us to reflect, ponder- a rebirth in our feelings … a kind of melancholy that makes us long for a kind of peace in the world that if only we can attain it- then it would transcend us to the depths of our true humanity. The peace wisher- writes it beautiful for us in his poem- “A great Wonder”-‘human kind in acts of kindness reveals god’s greatness’

The longing for world peace, seems like a barren land, it is, as if a lover has been uprooted, and he is no more, he is lost, gone, dead, we can assume the worst and no matter how much we wail or become aware of his absence; we can never have those transcendent moments, we have shared with that lover again. Our experience is just a fading memory and reality is now bare.

The only difference between that lover and our dream of a peaceful world is that there was some sort of actuality, in reference to the lover, he has shared our bed, once invaded our existence, once made us feel safe. Our desire for world peace mirrors the same kind of passionate encounter, but it is just a mere vision in a distant future. As if only in our imagination there is some kind of existence of peace - we have become like a nostalgic lover-begging- Afzal’s Shauq’s poem-“A new Dawn”, come new dawn, break forth a new day, Oh sun come” We see that peace- we want it, we desire it, like a new day, we need that newness to erase the bloodstains of the past.

Afzal Shauq’s poetry bears us down to the brutal reality of this kind of tranquil moment we all desire. In his poem,’ Friend or Enemy’ in The Twist of Fate, takes us to that kind of pretence reality, we all live under- that divide, I beg to add “with angelic looks great deceivers sucking life’s blood”

How can we live like this? - Guess that is why Afzal Shauq is called ‘The Peace Wisher’- because he writes, dabbling for that answer, ‘why pain? Why wars? Why the poor provides a realm of exotic mystery for the rich?’ why? He writes exposing the truth of our human doctrine which is socially constructed and which has intrinsic power to stimulate riveting discussions, and rapes us of our unassuming authentic self.

Humans have become blinded, I say to you Afzal Shauq- We have created our own mess, “a book of norms” like you said in your poetry. We have fixed ourselves in a well, so dry that our shame cannot be washed from its cruel ways. We have normalized our brutish actions- we live like a cloth has been cast over our eyes- what we see we call it real- Is it…. We indulge in wars, the shedding of innocent blood and believe it is all for the good of humankind. In Afzal Shauq’s poem- “Acts of cruelty”- “but hidden beneath her innocent façade acts of cruelty.

Poetry is like medicine it does not always taste good but give it time, it sinks in makes you better and realize the core of your sickness. When one reads – “THE PEACE WISHER” if you have a desire for a better world, it will awaken that sense of consciousness. You become so aware that peace would not only be a wish, but we would want it like that lover-to share our bed, enfold us in its arms, engulf our presence and thus realizing how damaged we are , we would want to be made anew.

Thank you Afzal Shauq for your gift of provoking words- sure it is my hope it would motivate us to dream, think, and create in reality - a better world.

Anthazia Kadir

Writer/teacher

Canada- City: Toronto.

www.poemhunter.com/anthazia-kadir

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Bio of Anthazia Kadir

Anthazia kadir resides in Toronto Canada, where she is presently finishing up her Hons Ba in English and Philosophy at York University in Toronto. After which she is planning on moving ahead with her academic career, embarking on her Ma in Education/Women's Studies/ Creative writing. She is a teacher by profession and Writer. She has also done some freelance journalism , writing soft news and travel features for newspaper and magazine back in her home country.

She is currently engaged in researching - deconstructing masculinity with reference to feminism, also completing an anthology- Moving to the West.

Anthazia has recently published a novel titled- What A Woman Wants- which can be found on www.xlibris.com.

To sum Anthazia up in a few words- a passion for knowledge, life and living.

Thank you for paying heed to my concern.

Anthazia

Biography of Anthazia Kadir

Name: Anthazia Kadir

Country: Canada- City: Toronto.

Profession: Writer/ Teacher

Presently: Finishing up an Hons BA- English/ Philosophy.

Books: What a woman Wants- Published by xlibris Nov 2009.

Present projects that I am working on- Completing my BA- 2011