WHEN THE WAR BROKE OUT !

I was a plain boy in early teens
When President Ayub Khan
In his address to the nation
Some thirty-three years ago
Boomed to teach the treacherous Hindus
A horrible lesson of their aggression

We had unshakeable faith in our armed forces
The battle in skies raised our spirits
We often sneaked from our home-trenches
To see dogfights, in street on the benches
Sometimes we even climbed roofs
To have very clear proofs
Of our pilots’ marvellous deeds
Befitting the nation’s needs

Roaring in Starfighters and Sabres
Our eagles pounced on the enemy fighters
Slaying Gnats and Canberras
In front of cine-cameras
The IAF was totally crippled
Such was the fury of our falcons

Those were great times in deed
The nation could fight with bricks and sticks
And yet give the enemy painful kicks

Our courage and valour should have no limit
We need to capture the same heroic spirit

                                                                                                   Aslam Bazmi