Heart wet with tears Eyes dry with despair Tongue frozen in grief Yet the spirit throbs with hope That despite the depravity of some The compassion in most of us Shapes the ultimate cure Infuses strength Enhances capacity to overcome evil.

But only if the tenacity of individuals and institutions Each of us, in our own way, each day Confronts, transcends, triumphs.

Javed Jabbar

Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014