Blues

Gently held in hazy greys
flaccid insecure on lazy lays
sorely remiss of flatulent souls
turgidly lolling on defiant moulds

Splashes of blue in window's light
eyes black dull though once bright
wit no more to call life's tunes
content to rot on moods in blues

None to sit the silent hours
companion engaged upon some bowers?
of leafy green in nature endowed
minds on plane of high beloved.

Rohan Jayawardana

------------------------------------------

The Eagle

Perched on the brink of cliff very high,
Steeply looking down to the sea,
Stand erect a stately eagle,
Gazing at the waters below,
Spying for signs of life in sea,
Now a stir, a big swooping plunge,
The fish is snapped, the prey is caught,
Off it flies, to feast, to feel its young.

Thus it watches for daily bread,
And teaches eaglets how to fly.

Carrying them gently on its wings,
Till a certain distance it flies,
Then lets go, and hovers around,
In case they fail to keep their pace.

Takes them again on to its wings,
And renews his effort again.

Sr. Mary Bernard R. G. S.

-------------------------------------------

Simple pleasures

A cup of hot ginger tea
on a cool monsoon morning
served in bed
by a faithful domestic;
a surprise visit
from an old friend still living
evoking nostalgia
for good old times;
a fondly awaited call
from a child long gone
seeking greener pastures
in alien cultures;
the feel of a cool wet snout
of an aging pet
her warm brown eyes
showing unconditional love;
such are the simple pleasures
of the so-called golden years!

Chitra Premaratne - Stuiver

--------------------------------------

On the Wings of a Fly

If the word love
written on wings
take flight
the fly would land
atop the beautiful flower

If the word hate
should be written
why should the fly stop
cling to a ripe fruit
eat deep to its seed

If the word peace
delicately written on wings
this fly atop the tallest tree
would scan out
in peace scanning other flies

If the word fly
written on subtle wings
would make it wonder
release, freedom, its near
gracefully depart from hate

Miran Perera

-------------------------------------------

Forgive them

We who love,
and cherish you all,
fast and true, care and bear with you all,
who are sorrowing now
with the weight of a zillion billion tears,
battling heavy within your hearts so mauled,
that mourn and never forget the disappointments
that colour your minds apartments in sadness,
when alone, behind closed doors,
find now you must, in gentle spirit that strength
that knows the value of all lives,
and live not merely to cast off your tether,
but live in a manner
that understands
the freedom of others.

And be seeing not only
the faults of others at times sun-kissed,
but also the faults of them at
times left out in the
pouring rain, but more
than that even, observe
them when alone and
abandoned, despondent
and downcast these
who grieve having
seen maimed, or having
lost loved ones, who
once shared with them
the loving memories that
at times spilled with the
laughter of success, and
yet at other times
convulsed with the demands
of failure and know that,
and all that lie
dark anxieties pulsing,
within them, and be moved,
and hold dear
not merely those opted for
but one and all,
and heal this world,
replete with wounded minds saddened,
day in and day out.

S. S. Barr Kumarakulasinghe

---------------------------------------

The rhythm of life

There's a patter of feet in the garden,
Sure it's a little imp
A two year old on a quest
Is here in his grandpa's garden
Achcho! what a thrilling sound!
And a little brother in his mother's arms
Sucking his thumb is visiting us.
A tide of happiness gushes in
Vibrating the pulses of ageing muscles
He knows his favourite haunts
The mirror table be admires himself
It looks a magic world
Life gushes in actions sets and an all alert
Teenage Ayya joins in and in goes a basketball
In rhythmic sounds, bump, bump, bump
Ring, ring, ring when the t'phone rings
Hello, Seeya, Achcho we love you they say
With accents acquired from foreign shores
The old house is vibrating again
As Seeya sits in his armchair, old
A younger generation breathing life
To an older waning one
Our kids now grown up taking their place
In the continuity of life
Breathing afresh new hopes, new dreams
While we drift in a sea of memories

Catherine Jayalath

------------------------------------------

I'm proud of thee Taj

I'm proud of thee Mumtaz
thee gave us Taj Mmahal
thy untimely death
saddened emperor Sahajahan
but kindled his heart
to build Taj for thy name
symbol of love, Apostle of love
won the race to the top
be a wonder of the
modern world
long live Taj
ye mortals take from me
feast thy eyes on Taj
kindle thy hearts on Taj
pen out thy thought on Taj
but no harm to Mumtaz

D. M. P. B. Dissanayake

--------------------------------------------

Rich and poor

Jantu is my name, I am a poor boy
Riches new, cloths, No not even a toy
Although I am a poor, my heart is every rich
Oh, God, I have never got what I wish

My slumber is always, quiet and peace
Rich boy do you ever have a peaceful sleep?
Perplexed is your mind and full of fear
My mind is free, like the running water clear

Contentment, is never within you, my dear
Happiness is within me, I am full of cheer
Although I am poor, I am rich in my sleep
All this is rich wealth, that I always keep

Rich boy, do your parents keep watching your wealth,
when you sleep?
Riches will one day, make you all weep
Rich boy, is your home full of peace of peas?
Rich boy, for breakfast do you only eat cheese?

Rich boy, to me no blazing hearth shall ever burn
To play on a ground, is far from my goal
No harvest, to my sickle, will ever yield
Never will I be able to drive, a team to a field

Only a bow and arrow, I did with ease
Only once, when the sun was dazzling, through the leaves
This too sparkled, on a weak game
Ended the path of glory, for this will lead me, to my grave

Rich boy, with all your wealth, you never sleep
Rich boy, is there a place for your toys to keep?
Rich boy, with all your wealth do you only weep?
Rich boy be free of all, and keep your mind in peace

Nalini C.K.V. Aluvihare