POETRY

Aftermath

Uncle Edward auntie's Galahad and her virtuous Lord,
In his late sixties now and wholly going bald,
His hearing dulled and eye-sight blurred;
Albeit, he is a man of peculiar mould.
Spruce, dapper, well-groomed and swaggering gait,
To no one he does bow his glittering pate,
But to his dowdy, immoral and amorous mate;
Who ridded him of his absurdly bumptious state.
Habitually now he arrives home heavily soused,
Greets him auntie duly with besom up raised,
Staggering and spluttering obscenities utterly dazed;
Sprawling uncle goes, on the polished floor-tiles glazed.

Jayaweera D. Gunaratne

Birds, flew over the "River Peace"

Over the troubled waters of
River "Peace", where
Blood, sweat and tears
overflowed constantly,
A bridge of love, hope and friendship
was built,
With the noble purpose of
bringing harmony among enemies...
Stirred waters, thereafter
began to flow motionlessly,
as before, How fascinating...!
Withered palmyra in vigour
stood like giants - How pleasant...!
Doves, whose wings tied tightly
began to flutter at will - How gracious...!
Ill-fated souls reawakened
with signs of relief - what a miracle...!
A day called "Tomorrow"
In the arid sandy desert
Peeped through the sand dunes,
Less fortunate' lips glittered
hiding their tears, fears under cheers ....
A bright sunshine overpowered
the battlefield, taming
the vigilant eyes of sentries
The sun and the moon began to
frolic with the blue ripples of
cool water of the river flowing through the valley ....
May many more bridges
be built over the troubled waters...!
May many more suns and moons
View the fascinating world...!
May many more soft winds
refresh the corrupt minds...!
May many more paths be opened
for thousands of Nadarajahs in the deep north
to visit thousands of Sumanasiris
in the deep South, to traverse
through the coarse valley
with the noble aim of rebuilding
the destroyed bridges, with strength.

Sudath Jayatissa Hewamadduma

Rivers of Lanka

Mahaweli, Kelani, Kalu, Walawe Ganga
Each tells the tales of bygone saga
One hundred twenty six splendid rivers
Blessed Isle now with trembling simmers
Mahaweli the great, winding through the races
Learn from me to treat equally all faces
Manampitiya Muslims and Trinco Tamils
Sinhalese all the way I treat with no ills
To the epic battle by me went Dutugamunu
Kandiyan kings sought me with their crew
Dammed at Polgolla, Randenigala, Rantambe
Tamed and quietened - down the hills I amber
I couldn't bear the corpses of the Bheeshana days
Tears copious, waters bloodied by brutal ways
Why can't man learn to hug craggy rocks as I do
Smoothening them with time their errors undo
Parched dry zones smile by my waters green
Acres of rich rice fields heart warming scene
Dutugemunu's Raja Mawatha beaming bright
People living in jungles have seen great light
Going through Elahara I give you precious gems
Rhythm thrills sights in my unending bends
Peradeniya Gardens my world famed child
Forget not my beauty of the untamed wild
Great elephant herds of Wasgomuva jungle
In my waters roll frolic swim and mingle
White water rafting many tourist attractions
To mother Lanka I Mahaweli, bring the nations
More than any I claim the right as mediator
Flowing through most of the nation's parameter
Hark Lanka, to thy wise long serving river
Let there be no bitter racial gall in thy liver
With victory in battle mercy to the vanquished
Is the nature of the magnanimous distinguished
Rebuild the rebellious redirect the misguided
Reconcile rifts healing all - unite the divided Centre to North and East freely give my waters Lands of all races my beloved filial quarters United Lanka resplendent under love's banner Pray live races as one, in God's gracious manner

Dr. Lalith Mendis

A voice from the grave yard

Our retinue increases daily,
New ones visiting us each day.
Sometimes, they come not a single
But, in small numbers they mingle
We are now friends, not seen before
Inmates, without a chief in this silent land
Come from various faiths, castes and creeds
When in 'life' counted barrier and breeds
Now, we all live together
Forgetful of the past valour or toil
Goodness, wickedness, nobility and servility
Now lie in dimensions of equality.
Near me lies an eminent figure
Who could uplift the poor and needy,
He feigned to do his duty right,
Now he is lying, still, to my right.
Criminals who had their day
Indulged in vicious and murderous acts.
They lie here in each are's cell
But, even now I dread their quell
No conventions or associations to attend,
Organisers or chiefs are not found
No ranks or designations, but silently lie
Oblivious of their deeds, rest without a sigh.
Making friends with the virtuous,
Grateful, helpful and free from malice
Like to lie with them, though we be mute
And most adoringly, to them, I salute

Dayaseeli Senaratne

Rose

Blooming,
With the sun.
And withering,
With the sun.
Sending hundreds of petals,
A long journey with winds,
Little rose
Which delivers nice thoughts,
Which gives nice smell,
I think,
The angels,
Brought you here.
You are so beautiful,
But,
Cruel as much as beautiful,
We all can watch you,
But can't pick you,
Cause you prick us,
With your thorns
Little rose,
You're like some people
Whose words they talk are nice,
But hearts burn with cruelty.

D.W. Lilani Anuruddhika

Ramadhan Fast

Once more than Hallowed month
That revives one's Faith and 'Taqwa'
Has, with blessings arrived
Isn't it a universal practice?
Moses, Jesus, people of the Scriptures.
Mary - all did fast.
But, in Islam - fasting gained perfection
To us - it is of profound value;
for, the Glorious Qur'aan -
A guide, a gift to mankind,
In Ramadhan did descend,
What does it proclaim?
Observe the Fast and invoke Allah
For self-control and spirituality.
To annihilate passion and evil deeds,
Such rigorous fasting do generate,
In man a sublime soul.
He who feeds his physical needs
For eleven months in such bliss
Gets a chance to purify
His heart his life and wealth too.
To elevate himself and contemplate.
Refraining from food, drink and lust
Is not what Allaah expects!
It is abstinence from lying and back-biting
For piety it is a rigid test
For man's endurance, desires and drives.
A moment to feel the pangs of hunger
To share your wealth with kin and destitutes
Awaken a consciousness to lofty life
The Qur'aan reminds you thus'
"And that ye fast is better for you,
If you did know" (Q: 2-184)
Didn't the Prophet say?
That "Fasting is a shield"
So, forsake not, to please the Satan. Weren't the great wars won
By the fasting faithfuls? Lord! In His Mercy
Does not expect - a mother to be?
The ailing, the old the insane,
The mother who suckles
Those on journeys too to fast.
It's a lesson in democracy,
A universal covenant,
Observed by rich and poor alike.
Fourteen hours do the believers fast
Comes the hour to break the fast!
Pleasure fills your heart at last
How you relish and realise, the value of food
Doesn't water taste like nectar?
The thirst is gone, the veins are soaked.
In deep humility and gratitude
You thank the most Merciful Lord
Who made you too fit to fast.

Nafeela Mukthar

Shroud of doubt and fear

How can the darkness be expelled
with no any doubt or fear
when the very flame of the lamp
burns the whole house to ashes?
How can the sea be regarded
as the sole protector of the island
when all of a sudden
it turns out to be a tsunami?
How can the breeze be believed
to soothe and comfort us all
when its gentle blowing turns out
to be a violent and destructive tempest?
How can the stream be believed
to quench us of our burning thirst
when it becomes a violent gush
that destroys everything and everyone?

Ivan Kiriella

"A realm of cliff-lined seascapes and misty peaks that unrolled each dawn from the scroll of night - Sterling Seagrave"