That is precisely why
the number of those who preach peace
has grown so large.
Among those who walk around advising peace,
I do not stand
at the feet of peace.
When a storm rages inside,
I have not learned
to walk outside chanting
“Peace… peace…”
Today’s human being speaks of peace
because a war is being fought within.
If silence is chosen
to hide the truth of pain,
that silence is not peace—
it is merely a treaty
signed by fear.
Silence that covers pain
is not peace.
A smile swallowed by fear
is not peace.
When justice lies shattered,
the learned habit of saying
“Everything is fine”
is not the language of peace—
it is the soft dialect
of defeat.
Peace
is not a slogan.
Not a prayer poster.
Not a magic spell
that erases pain.
Peace must come
only after pain has been spoken,
after questions have been asked,
after one has stood upright.
When standing upright itself
becomes the greatest rebellion
of our times,
peace
will not come free of cost.
Those who preach peace
without standing with justice
are participants in war.
Those who accept injustice
by remaining silent
are bloodless weapons.
That is why I say—
to walk around saying “peace”
when peace does not exist
is not just the gentlest lie
we tell ourselves;
it is a cultured cruelty
that pushes others
into silence.
I want peace.
But—
peace built on justice.
Peace that stands on truth.
Peace that comes
after pain has been fully spoken.
Not the performance
of smiling outside
while a storm burns within,
pretending to say “peace.”
I can no longer
be part of that act.
