A GURKHA MOTHER (Satis Shroff) br br The gurkha with a khukri br But no enemy br Works for the United Nations br And yet gets shot at br In missions he doesn't comprehend. br Order is hukum, hukum is life br Johnny Gurkha still dies under foreign skies. br br He never asks why br Politics isn't his style br He's fought against all and sundry: br Turks, Tibetans, Italians and Indians br Germans, Japanese, Chinese br Argentenians and Vietnamese. br Indonesians and Iraqis. br Loyalty to the utmost br Never fearing a loss. br br The loss of a mother's son br From the mountains of Nepal. br br Her grandpa died in Burma br For the glory of the British. br Her husband in Mesopotemia br She knows not against whom br No one did tell her. br Her brother fell in France, br Against the Teutonic hordes. br She prays to Shiva of the Snows for peace br And her son's safety. br Her joy and her hope br Farming on a terraced slope. br br A son who helped wipe her tears br And ease the pain in her mother's heart. br A frugal mother who lives by the seasons br And peers down to the valleys br Year in and year out br In expectation of her soldier son. br br A smart Gurkha is underway br Heard from across the hill with a shout br 'It’s an officer from his battalion. br A letter with a seal and a poker-face br 'Your son died on duty', he says, br 'Keeping peace for the country br And the United Nations'. br br A world crumbles down br The Nepalese mother cannot utter a word br Gone is her son, br Her precious jewel. br Her only insurance and sunshine br In the craggy hills of Nepal. br And with him her dreams br A spartan life that kills.