Defiance! by Hirak Dasgupta

My hungry state 

needs fresh blood 

to drink

and rejuvenate 

and become the monster 

it once was 

young men 

and their youthful lovers

try hard 

to deprive the beast

of its meal

they fall before

bullets 

batons 

and draconian laws

and rise

rise!

rise! 

they fall by the dozens

but rise by the thousands 

and paint the capital red!

I love to watch my state

shudder before their raised 

fists!