The Soldier

In the arid sand
Of Arisi Malai
He found himself very weary
His body warm, his throat parched
From the sun?s unrelenting fury

He laid his gun on the shore
Walked into the cool blue sea
And felt his body shrink with delight
With the frigid ocean?s mercy

It was then he saw a dark figure
Another man in the water
Whose countenance he recognized
And made his step falter

On a dark day the previous week
The man had led two attacks
Against the soldier?s platoon sparse
Leaving all but him dead in their tracks

Their eyes met in hated recognition
Their minds not sure what to do
Both knew they had guns on the shore
and could use them in a moment or two

After a moment?s hesitation the man swam away
Clearly not going to reopen
The attacks he just carried out
The other day with his weapon

The soldier knew he could do so
by reaching for his gun
And killing his dreaded enemy
Sweet revenge and so much fun!

Yet, was this war
The soldier thought
And he knew he would not be winning
By killing a defenseless person
Albeit an enemy caught

So he let this golden moment pass
And went on with his swimming
No shot rang out
No one was hurt
And a human had refrained from sinning

There will always be war
There will always be peace
The trick is to know which is which
The rules are quite clear
You must not ever fear
To stand up to values that are rich.

RUWANTISSA ABEYRATNE

############

The writer

The pen poised, eye-brows raised
Deep in thought he stared at the blank paper
All at once the thoughts flowed without a stop
He wrote and wrote until his fingers were numb

He leaned back in his chair and read it all over again
Quite satisfied with the thoughts he penned
He signed with a flourish, by Avner
His pen name hereafter

Writing had never been his forte
Although he was a voracious reader
Today is the beginning he mused
Of his love affair with the pen

From morn till night he works at his computer
Yet, the pen in hand connected his thoughts
So much so that the writing was applauded
By the publisher of his article

ARIEL DE SILVA

################

An adventure!

He shot out of bed and ran to the port.
Untied the rope and got on to his boat.
In the dark twinkled a star,
As he witnessed a mermaid from not so far.

She was as beautiful as a rose.
And very sharp was her nose.
She offered him a splendid smile.
Love gushed between them
And was long as Nile.

He threw his rope and brought her up
And offered her tea in a small cup.
Both of them consented to marry.
She insisted that they must hurry.

John, John he heard someone calling,
He quickly got up while yawning.
To him only then it seemed,
That it was only an adventure in a dream!

RUSHDA RAMEEZ

##################

The vase of love

Broken into a zillion pieces,
Didn?t think I could,
But I did.
Tiny pieces,
Scattered in the firmament,
Thunder cracked,
Threatened life,
Lightening splashed,
Rain poured.

Seasons changed,
Eye of the blue smiled,
Rays encroached,
Light invaded,
Storms ceased.

Rose buds and saplings rose,
Memory claimed,
The broken vase

LAKSHANI KODITUWAKKU

##################

I can?t feel it

Carrying me inside your body organ
Provided with utmost protection
Extra care and guarantee
To be sure that nothing hurts me
I grow in you
My aural ability and sensibility
gives me clues and picks up things around me
I hear your voice early in the morning
You murmur something with deep sensation
Fragrance of flowers and the sweet smell of incense
I can feel your sacred heart
That makes me calm to wake up with you
You start the day with nutritious food
I hear someone always saying
?Fill for two?

You walk with me quite a distance
My doubts, I have no guidance
Blowing hones endless and noisy
Nonstop sounds passing crazy
My tiny ears could even burst
Some strong smell blocking my nose
Then, someone shouts
?Get inside?
I hear a music from the neighbourhood
Horrible, disturbing and too loud
I hate it
Familiar footsteps reaching towards
I guess, who that could be
Talking softly and touching me
?Darling, are you there??
An affectionate tone

A silent atmosphere, after a long spell
It must be the end of the day
You lie down so comfortably
Your palm goes round and round
Around your big tummy
It touches me so tender
I really feel it
Then you start singing, to my little ears
Doi....Doi.....Doi......Doiya...Babaa...
Bai.....Bai.....Bai....Baiya.....Babaa...
Your sweet voice makes me float
With a heavenly feeling
The verse that holds us together
With a beautiful rhythm, thyme and repetition
That?s the best singing, keeps me alive

SUSI ABEYNANDA

####################

Nativity, Kirama Hill

It is a beautiful hill
Surrounded by a long range
Spinners are scattered
All over the hill range

Tall and short trees
Show the sky is uneven
Hedgerows and wild grass
Make the greenery splendid

Leaves touching the horizon
Nestle pushing clouds away
Serenely do dews descend
Upon these blossomed ones

Cascading waterfalls glitter
Whispering the Autumn song
Fill whirlpools in the valley
Bringing salubrious serenity

Flowers bloomed in creeps
Dangle from gigantic trees
Exuding fragrance sway
In breeze and wind around

Nectar oozing from blossoms
Emits incense and warmth
Bees are hovering around
Making a buzz and whizz in a bliss

Auras peep from the nimbus
penetrating the haze in the sky
Glitter running silver rays
Throw a halo round the hills

Robins and orioles in herds
Skitter here and there
Suck the pollen in an array
From half bloomed flowers

Squirrels and parrots on boughs
Profusely eat ripen fruits
Herons and geese on the lake
Float among bloomed lotus.

Chipmonks squeeze and suck
Chips of ripen jack fruits
Bountiful of buds and blossoms
Kindle virgin thoughts and warmth

A monk in a yellow robe
steps along a gravel path
Spread the spellbinding serenity
Exhibiting the wisdom of life

WIJEYADASA RAJAPAKSHE

####################

Dear Poets

The following poets whose poems were published in the Daily News are requested to contact the Daily News Editorial immediately on 2 429 213 or 2 429 219. Randev Perera, L.E.C. Salgado, George Eddie, Narendra Kalinga, Nimal Pryasiri Dunu, A. Ratnayake, Indu Gamage, Sr. Mary Bernard R.G.S., Sudath Jayatissa Hewamadduma, D.J., Kusum Rajapakse, Arjuna Athapathu, Nimal Sedera, N. Muthukumar, Saara Panchamee Hewavissenti, Arjuna, Antonette de Cruze, V. Iresh Piyatilleke, Pramod Beri, Sunil Ranasinghe, Dayaseeli Senaratne, Nimal Dunuhinga, Victor Peries, B. Roken Heart, Saroja Siriwardene, Arefa Teshin, Manushi Atapattu, A. Bogoda, Deen, A.C. Sunil Ranaweera, Rinoza, N. L. Jayawardena, K.H.S. Perera, Lakshani Kodituwakku and Ivan Kiriella.