Yesterday, January 28, the Supreme Court refused to review its December, 2013 verdict criminalising gay sex. The court rejected the petition and said it found no merit in it. Author Vikram Seth, "restless, and unable to sleep", wrote the following in the hope that "maybe it will help give heart to some."
'This Is The True Unnatural Crime'
"This is the true and natural good/To undo justice, and to seek/To quash the rights that serve the weak". The poet responds to the Supreme Court's refusal to review its verdict criminalising gay sex.
Through Love’s Great Power
Through love’s great power to be made whole
In mind and body, heart and soul—
Through freedom to find joy, or be
By dint of joy itself set free
In love and in companionhood:
This is the true and natural good.
To undo justice, and to seek
To quash the rights that serve the weak—
To sneer at love, and wrench apart
The bonds of body, mind and heart
With specious reason and no rhyme:
This is the true unnatural crime.
—Vikram Seth
Author's note: Any person, publication or channel may use, disseminate or publish this poem and recording freely—without permission from either Outlook or the author.
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