JUST A DREAM.

I'M FLOWING
IN AN ANCIENT RIVER.

NO ONE HEARS
WHAT I'M
SAYING TO THE RIVER.

AND WHAT THE RIVER WAS
SAYING TO ME.

DOWN THE NEWS
I,
RIVER,
TIDE.

TO LIU XIAOBO

Yellow river
emanates
in China.
Will your
river flow?
Will kids
row the boat
in that river?

Cities roar
in China.
Will your voice
ascend above them?
Will flowers
soar with wings
in that voice?

Yesterday,
I saw a dream.
Dungeons
are bursting
as bubbles.

Is the dream,
a dream alone?
OR
A rainbow path
to reality?
.

DIFFERENT PITCHES

I An emerald glare Lit up the sky in the distance. The line of sand Alternately Appeared and disappeared. The drum beats Different pitches. The ocean was breathing, Hiding a wrath. II 'I don’t want to Go out in the rain’ Said the girl in ‘English.’ The hair might Fell out in today’s rain.       III Yellowish mist Hangs over earth. No desire to go out. A ghastly silence Sets in the dusk. Frogs splash in the puddles Letting out strange grunts. But yet to see one.    IV The shadow of decay Lies on everything. Art supporting The dying dream. Cynicism shocks The senile brains. Nature leaves last chance. We do not believe in Nature. What is our chance? V The landscape flying by In the windows of the carriage. Everything is fictional, A deception. In the end Settle down quietly In the desert.

 

INDIA

India is a bird
In the map
Ready to soar.

Bengal and Assam
A wing.
Gujarat and Rajasthan
Another.

The pinnacle
Jammu Kashmir
Gazes.

Delhi and Punjab
Stirs the body.

Kerala
Hangs on tail
A stylet.

LOOK

A vulture feeds corses ?

A myena that sings ?

DAMSELS IN KUTTANAD

In Kuttanad
The damsels
Never outruns girlhood.

Like lakes,
Stirs in gentle breeze.

In the brook
Perches becomes stars
At their sight.

At the twinkling anklets
Water lilies flushed.

From the untied hair
The blackened shadows flies.
Seeing the ebony bossom
The sky bloomed wide.

GIRL IN JEANS

Strolls with men
Moves like men
Observes time
Possess political acumen
A polyglot.

Sits as she wish
One leg on the other
Or kept wide open.

Thwarted my male look
With a NO.
LET THE WORLD CHANGE
For an I LOVE YOU.

Proud bossom
Naughty butts

A pass at her
In a crowded bus ,
Your genitals suffer.

Midnight.
Coimbatore.
100 feet road.

In the terrace
Tried to grab
She smothered
My cheeks.

Never believe men
Preach progress.

TO FATHER , UNTOLD

We discussed poetry
In rented homes.

Claws hiding
They asked.

What's the use of poetry?

Airconditioned Professors
Growled.

What poem
Without honors?

Pasting flaky smile
Breaking the world
The editors roar.

Poem,not printed at all?

Benumbed in cold
We chased to poles.

We quarelled
Fondness rustled.

You
Frequented toddy shops
Befriended young men.

Before your poetry
Rocked skies
You went away.

Folk memories
went too with you.

Defiance
Bravado
Conflicts
No more.

Time
The turbid water
Everyone catches fish.

I'm waiting
turn to come.