AIDS - More Myth than Virus

I woke up this morning to get an e-mail announcing the release of the Winter 2009 issue of 'Lyceum'. Lyceum is a literary and fine arts journal published semesterly at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I was waiting to hear about the winter issue since the past couple of weeks as one of my poems was selected for it. It is the first time that one of my poems has been published in a magazine (I always thought they were worth solely for my blog ;) , so…never tried to get it published!)

This poem was not posted in my blog earlier because it is very close to my heart and only my dear friends had read it! There are wonderful memories of my experiences knitted with this poem. I had written it in December 2006 and it still remains to be one of my favorites! This poem was earlier presented as a poster for the AIDS Luncheon at the University of Michigan – Dearborn held on December 1st, 2008 (World AIDS Day). I am posting this poem so that people who don’t have access to Lyceum can read it and THINK about it!

This poem is dedicated to all my fellow humans around the world afflicted with HIV/AIDS....
KNOW AIDS - NO AIDS

AIDS - More Myth than Virus!!

Listening to them and talking for endless hours
won’t make you deaf and dumb,
It makes them relieved and de-stressed.
Shaking hands with them won’t make you a criminal,
It makes them confident and bold.
Working with them won’t decompose you to extinction,
It makes them independent and self reliant.
Embracing them when they need it won’t make you a sinner and shameful,
It makes them secure and cheerful.
Sharing food and drinks won’t poison your already rotten body,
It makes them a part of us and gives acceptance.

Running your fingers through theirs won’t make you crippled for life,
It fills their soul with vibrant energy.
Living together under one roof won’t make your life hell,
It makes their life worth living.
Offering a shoulder to cry on won’t make your bones lifeless,
It gives them support and strength.
Looking into their eyes flirtatiously won’t make you blind,
It makes them more loving and kind.
Giving them a delicate kiss won’t paralyze your organs,
It makes them special and spirited.

If you disagree to the above,
Beware! You suffer from more deadly diseases.
These actions may not matter to your life,
but it does to their life...
Finally they may have a gruesome death,
Not because of "AIDS"
But because of the incurable diseases infected by you...
Hatred, Stigma, Exploitation, Abuse and Discrimination!

Now, who is infected by worse deadly diseases???