This is Delhi
A mega urban forest
abode of two billion
amused
mesmerised
restless
ru thless
insensitive, impatient people
a hapless metropolis
where everything is purchased
-air, water, relationship
a city -unintelligently expanding
where forcefully pasted
artificially prepared
green patches create awe
where no one hears
alhaa, birhaa, holee
or chirpy birds
music and dance are on rent in discos
where whispering
scheming
[...] Read more
Town planning
As the plane climbed up at dusk over
Meenambakkam Airport in Chennai,
I look down from window-seat to see
The concentration of twinkling lights
That indicate the main road in the city,
Not straight but perhaps formed over time,
Narrowings between two developed areas
Or the result of some indecision or litigation?
I recall my long flight to Buenos Aires in 1987
And a week-long stay in Claridges' Hotel mid-town.
The concierge pulled out just a palm-sized map
Of that city of ten million - before the advent of laptop -
And could give me directions to reach any part of city
With just two of three turns according to that map.
It was truly a planned city: flying above it at night,
One would see a lit-up chessboard,
Not the Chennai-type of snakes and ladders!
Well, does it make a difference, one wonders at times?
Have You Ever Seen A Cat That Could Dance?
I don't remember a witch
...but there was a black cat,
who sat down beside me
and told me that -
'This cat has strong legs, and the love of thrills'
'I like to climb things - including hills'
The story smelled fishy, not what it seemed
Truth better than fiction, who would have dreamed?
'A lovely wee cat, a lovely wee kitty
so kind and so playful, but most of all pretty'
Have you ever seen a cat that could dance?
to writhe and wrigge, wiggle and prance?
What a sight to see, for you or for me
my eyes became locked and wouldn't come free.
But that was the plan, from start until end
to hook me with dance to make me a friend.
This cat was not mean, this cat was not cruel
this cat was amazing, pretty and kewl!
[...] Read more
Brief Tsunami Hymn-Elegy
Travellers round
the history
Touch the dandelion
with your left finger
And convey the seed
Onto the putrid palm
tree.
Lancets hang on the palm
Glisten in exuberating air
Abandonned smeary fatigue
in rational hills
To attain Bothar divine
Be it alas by aid
Of inebriation
Lubricate joints
Smoothen surfaces
Extend in complete
Solar radiance
Earth lifted sea
[...] Read more
A Paranà
Calles de mi ciudad
donde dejè la huella de mis pequeños pasos,
la tierra de mi padre
en la que vì la luz primera.
Aquella ciudad del amor y los abrazos,
la de la barranca junto al ancho rìo,
las islas soñadas tantas veces...
la ciudad del jacarandà,
la de mi adolescencia, la del Colegio
donde se escribiò la historia de la Patria,
allì, donde tambièn naciò mi historia.
Original in Spanish translated to English by Daniel Ginhson with comments by Sue Littleto: .
Streets of my city
where I left the footprints of my small steps,
my father`'s birthplace,
where I saw first light,
the city of love and embraces,
the sloping bank of the wide river,
[...] Read more
First words in a book
My first book
of this ridiculous,
that ridiculous cat, wearing the hat,
was so laid back,
dead relaxed, and smiling
in black, yes black, in that hat.
And so absurd,
spoke fantastic words,
from that cat talking in the red hat.
Said I. 'I'm lost for words.'
'No! Never! I've decided'
Said that nerd of a cat in that hat.
'Go turn that page
and we can see. Go on, turn.'
Demanded that cat with it's hat.
[...] Read more
4. 'BLACK Day for the PINK CITY Stained RED..13th May 2008
[IT IS NOT A POEM]
[To all my POET READERS ]
My beautiful PINK CITY is tainted RED today
Six or more Serial Bomb Blast ripped through the heart of the city
Ruining the peace of the Historically Royal town
The heritage now turned in a graveyard.
JAIPUR the capital city of the most peaceful state Rajasthan in INDIA
Became the target of terrorism tolling many innocent lives
The growing Metropolis became the playground of evil forces
My heart broke to watch the heart rendering visuals of the remnants.
I want the support of all my poet readers to condemn this inhuman act
And wish that no evil force should succeed in its aim.
Although I am safe with my family but do not know of so many
All those who are killed or injured were the residents of my city.
[...] Read more
An Evening In October
An evening in October the second month of Spring
And in the Town of Emerald the common mynas sing
And gold billed blackbird whistling on sunlit wattle tree
And whoever coined the phrase was right 'the best things in life are free'.
The best things in life are always free and we don't have to pay
For the air we breathe and the water we drink and the sun that warms the day
And most of us do not appreciate what Mother Earth supply
We worry about little things and life we don't enjoy.
The birds sing for the joy of Spring in sun and wind and rain
They sing as if the Winter days will never come again
They do not have mortgage to pay their roof the open sky
They come and go at their own whim and they have their wings
to fly.
In sunlit park in Emerald just off of the busy street
The mynas and the blackbirds in song seem to compete
On an evening in October a warm and balmy day
And for the better things in life we do not have to pay.
Thou Art a Flower
Thou art a flower, dear heart, a fragrant flower
And I, the wandering, hair-clad, amorous bee.
’Mongst all the regal beauties of the bower,
I seek but thee.
I feel the ivory of thy petals fair
Brush lightly on my belly as I woo
And I would sting thee, if I did but dare,
So sweet are you.
I suck the honey from your dewy bowl
And drunken mad, with wild, delirious bliss,
Within your cup, I yield to you my soul
And drink your kiss.
Oh! petals sweet, close in and crush me dead.
I am consumed in flames of passion’s fire.
What else is left, when this dear hour hath fled.
But dead desire?
[...] Read more
poem by from The Point of View
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
That Darn Old Cat-Where Be He At? ...
I privy this-I privy that...
To sense the where abouts of that darned old cat.
That darned old cat that bats at bugs in the window sill...
Lays all day and catches rays and plays.
The sun bathe's that darned old cat...
Does he really care of where he's at?
That darn old cat knows he's cute...
He'll one day be a star-That awesome brute.
I shake and dangle a string in front of his inattentive and
unflexing stupor's face....
He finally jumps and pounces as if with a timed clock he is paced
in a race.
That darned old cat...
Does he know of where he is or even where be at?
[...] Read more