Has poetry taught you anything

 

"Has poetry taught you anything?"

"A pal loved my love poem 'The Story of Swapna'. Got #immersed in it. He wanted to be Swapna."

"Sweet."

"Then, I showed it to Swapna. She yawned." 

"Cruel."

"Yes, it's cruel to realise one can't trust people who love your poetry."

#vss365

For the sake of completeness, this is the last part of that old love pome 'The Story of Swapna'.

Yes, the one that will make you yawn. 🙃

https://discardedthoughts-swapna.blogspot.com/2009/07/his-story-epilogue-to-her-1991.html

What will you remember when a life ends

 

#vss365

What will you remember

When a life ends

After the guests are gone

With stories of valiant deeds

Nice false notes that #linger

Till the dishes are washed wiped

Will you dream

With another’s face

With memories

Suitably mummified

Best not to know

What you will remember.

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2011/05/remembrances.html

erased

 

How can I forget 6/6/'26?

Last day I saw my reflection in a mirror. The day I lost my shadow.

It's hardly comforting everyone's facing the same predicament.

Ghosts and live ones interchangeable.

AI overdose. #Betrayal of the Gods. The old headlines about the erased.

#vss365

from 'Oddity IV'

 

A canvas for the mind – that be life –

No marred margin mourned and gilded edge shorn;

Labour be so, too – through joy or strife –

By whim or #intent it’s coloured, shaded or torn.

#vss365

from

https://discardedthoughts-swapna.blogspot.com/2009/10/oddity-iv.html

from 'Virgin Territory'

 

We used to play volleyball and badminton. The rivalry was #feral at times. 

Was it because I thought she deserved better than her lover?

Was it because of the kiss?

Was it because I lied when she asked me, "Are you in love with me?"?

#vss365

from

https://newnonentities.blogspot.com/2020/02/virgin-territory.html

barren

 

I have forgotten 

How to save a #barren life.

Blank stare at sunset. 

#vss365

#haiku #senryu

We were so young then

 

I nearly cherished those moments, when friendship with its vagueness and #fleeting companionship seems comfortable.

Then, the past entered. I brought it up. Or, she did. 

"We were so young then," she said. "We have to talk about it. Get it off our chest."

Did I laugh?

#vss365

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2012/02/dates.html

they don't even mention your name

 

"They don't even mention your #name," she said.

The invisible, even the homeless, aren't so. 

Life at the end of the spectrum of nothingness.

"Why do you love me then?" I said.

Two small black clouds never to be noticed,

Bid adieu to those who will remember the bright sky.

#vss365

Remembering Camilleri

 

It is so hot and depressing. 

That's supposed to be the excuse for posting non-fiction under #vss365. 

‘Actually, if one really thought about it, the television had been presenting the same news stories for years; the only things that changed were the #names: the #names of the towns in which the events were occurring and the #names of the people involved. But the substance was always the same.’

That's from Andrea Camilleri. Here's an old review/fan-drool of his Montalbano series:

https://newnonentities.blogspot.com/2010/07/if-you-think-you-are-old-read-this-or.html

from 'The Big E'

 

On a hot summer afternoon, she was near climax when a brilliant idea struck him like the clichéd bolt of #lightning. 

He interrupted the act to work on it. He read it to her once he was finished. 

"Brilliant," she muttered. 

Next time, "You and your bloody Eureka..."

#vss365

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-big-e.html

They can't handle that

 

When they found me on top of a coconut tree:

The waning gibbous grinned,

"They are going to blame it on me,

#Lunar eclipse of the mind & what-not.

Tell them the truth, my love."

I chuckled,

"They can't handle that, my dear.

In fact, nothing will stop their abuse."

#vss365

from 'In Between'

 

“If another person stepped in, and there is minimal change in routine, will you even notice the death of a loved one?” he said.

She walked away without reply. 

That night, alone, when she sobbed, "You ass, I guess you will say, nice try to contact the #psychopomp."

#vss365

from my short story 'In Between':

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2016/05/in-between.html

Hannah Bell Lecter

 

“Do you have pets?”

“No. Why?”

“I don’t date ladies with pets.”

“History?”

“First love fed me to her #wolves. Then, married one with piranha.”

“Good to have you intact.”

“My pleasure. I’m Arjun.”

“I’m Lecter. Hannah Bell Lecter. Great to have a friend for dinner.”

#vss365

from 'A Beautiful Morn'

 

The early morning sun threw colours at everything; the green-brown river lazed reflected, the bridge stretching waking over it, the #fishing boats scratched its top.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he muttered to himself.

“Yes, it is.”

She was not smiling, but her eyes were. 

#vss365

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-beautiful-morn.html

When we kissed

 

“Desire like unruly #seafoam

Drowned me when you kissed,”

Her words I can’t forget.

Not sure what I did right.

Not sure what she meant.

Creative change? 

Or rejection?

#vss365

Do I really want to know what you are thinking?

 

Do I really want to know what you are thinking?

Let's assume those are good lies to remain calm in this #sink-hole.

Not like ex-lovers fantasising with fiction dressed up as truth.

Like lonely kids ready to hide a tear for a game or to avert death.

#vss365

sing along

 

#vss365

(#sing along)

There are too many politicians in my family.

There is one.

He stood for election once.

He got two votes.

His mother, wife, son or daughter?

Or all?

Who betrayed him?

That remains an unsolved mystery.

[Chorus]

There are too many politicians in my family.

There is one.

There are too many lawyers in my family.

There is one.

There are too many doctors in my family.

There is one.

There are too many bureaucrats in my family.

There are none.

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2018/04/sing-along.html

from 'Ode To The Lover's Shadow'

 

When she undressed, you too I watched,

Teased and loved you - of course, her too...

All was well till the denouement

When she charged me with wantonness...

If I could have another turn,

Will you be in high noon’s #blind spot?

Love still remains when lovers spurn...

#vss365

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2013/04/ode-to-lovers-shadow.html

from 'My Mother's Village'

 

I walked upstream along the #bank to the old sandy bathing spot. 

Found an ugly mound of rock, weeds and wild grass. The carcass left behind by indiscriminate sand-mining.

I took a few photos of that sad wretched place. I wish I had photos of the paradise it once was.

#vss365

from

https://justoneavatar.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-mothers-village.html

Don't mention

 

"Molu, when the doctor asks questions, please answer, ok? (Lowers voice.) Tell the doctor Daddy works abroad. Don’t mention about Uncle staying with us. It doesn't matter but there’s no need, right?" 

The daughter turns away after removing her mother’s hand on her #arm.

#vss365

from

https://newnonentities.blogspot.com/2010/09/other.html