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Can you please save me?
I am drowning.
I am drowning in the land of the free and home of the...
(wait, what was that last part again?)
We had so much potential...
We saved the world.
We cared for it gently.
Now that has been shoved to the side.
I am drowning in this dystopian plutocracy.
I can't breathe over the advertisements.
My lungs are filled with empty words.



I sink into the static...
the morning after always hurts the worst
hazy brain
summersault stomach
and where in the hell is my car

i want a pizza
or two

it was nice to see you
i've missed your smile
and condensed stare
and the shape that your lips make while you confess your love to the beer bottle's neck

that explains the jameson
and all the beers at the bar
the beer bongs at the after party
and why i could stomach the strippers

it was all you
so nice to see you

why do i always feel guilty when the sun comes up

no one got a black eye
i didn't grab the mic
and my clothes stayed on until i was safely home
although
the cab driver may have caught a glance

to think
i'm "all grown up"

i'm not at all sorry
not for the whiskey gut
or the fire i'll throw up
or the kisses that i didn't plant along your collar
i'm still the same floral-print ship-wreck at the bottom of the bottle

my mother once said that the only people worth clinging to
are those who see all of your greatness outweighing your flaws

you still see the holes in my tights
and my falling hem line
not the honey sweet legs they shape
or the hips and thighs that the denim hides
i'll be just fine as the german genie in the bottle of irish whiskey

witty
and slack-jawed
and ready to kiss the lips off the face of the clock
and two shots away from dancing with the cops
i look great in hand-cuffs
i'll whistle the whole way to jail

small victories weigh the most
and right now
i feel like muhammed ali

thanks, babe

here's two asprin that glow better than your eyes
and they're mine
waiting to chase away the pain that came up with the sun
here's to endings that aren't a safe bet
here's to sleeping alone
here's to new mistakes
just waiting to happen

*water never tasted so good to me
a temple tower proudly embossed over
the sun's last blush
stands a silent spectator
to the revelry

just like it stood welcoming
over kings
in
an
era
long
past

i stare into time
and time  stares back at me


- Vijayalakshmi Harish
   15.01.2013
   Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish
Wish I could show you'll the photo!
Coming home,
to see blank eyes,
on a young face,
is an even greater pain,
than seeing lifeless ones,
because,
blank eyes means
that he's just not living,
there is no joy,
and no hope,
that should be filling his young
soul,
there is only fear,
blind, panicky, fear.
A type of fear no child should ever
feel.

He fear's
where he came from,
every time we get him,
he's covered in scars,
and bruises,
and we can hardly do anything about it.
His eyes are so wide,
and afraid,
if I go to touch his unhealthy face,
i'm not going to hit him,
but he flinches,
like I will,
and it's horrible to watch,
it's heart breaking,
I can't stand to see this child,
hurt.

I've had nightmares of what happens,
to him,
and what's hard to stomach,
is that those nightmares,
are true.
This child,
not even a child,
this baby,
is beaten to the point,
where he is afraid,
of everyone,
and his eyes,
I can't look at them,
the fear kept there,
stabs at,
me.

The knife rips through my body,
over and over again,
and all I think,
is what that child goes through,
that he's tortured,
every day,
for just being there.
But he's not the only child in this scenario,
there's a little girl,
who just turned four.
She's never been to school,
and you ask her a question,
she just stares at you,
not understanding what you said.
She doesn't know,
how to do,
anything.

My family and I,
had to teach her,
how to put a shirt on,
when she was three.
She was three,
and couldn't dress herself.
What ever these kids go through,
every single day,
all I can deduce is,
one is tortured,
mercilessly hit in the face
till his mouth bleeds.
And the other,
can do what ever she wants,
but isn't taught anything,
and she'll be set back,
so far.

She'll never rise to the full potential,
of what she could be.
God knows were trying,
to do everything we can,
to help these kids.
There used to be three
in this situation,
and we were able to save,
one.
It's possible,
but it's so hard,
and I don't know,
if we can ever save
these other kids,
before it is,
too late.
My family has already called child protective services, and we told them about what happens to these children, and we even have photo evidence of it, and all they asked was if they had a roof over their head, and we said yes, and then they said that this wasn't severe enough of a case for them to step into. What are we supposed to do! Wait for one of the kids to die before you will even notice! What makes it not severe enough! Kids not being fed, getting beaten till they're bleeding, not getting bathed, and living in a disgusting trailer, and not going to school and actively learning like a little kid should! I guess that isn't severe enough! How about every time we get these kids they're sick, not having a cold sick, I mean a high fever and coughing everywhere kind of sick! Is a non-healthy environment not worth stepping in to take a look at! And how about the idea that we already have custody of one of the kids in this scenario! That doesn't ring a bell, that we had already taken one kid out of that situation to give him a better life, and now were not allowed to help these other kids! It's ridiculous, and makes me angry beyond belief, that we can only do so much before we have to give the kids back to their parents! If you saw their faces when they went back, your heart would break in two. The kids know what they're going back to, and they don't want to go back. I'm sorry, I had to vent, this was just too much to hold in.
A kiss blown in the quiet wind,
With thoughts of you at heart,
Carried aloft by seagulls,
Every journey has a start,
Handed off to Albatross,
Headed out to sea,
Far beyond my vision,
A journey this must be,
Dropped gently upon an oceans crest,
Riding high upon the wave,
A gentle kiss,
Turned a million bits,
Into a salty spray,
Gathering in gentle wind,
It re-forms into a kiss,
And flitting through your open room,
It lands upon your lips.
Okay. Kinda goofy and juvenile but I'm in love. Love makes us all stupid sometimes.
When I felt like nobody cared, YOU were there,
Soothing the wounds in my heart…

When I felt life was not worth it, YOU came around,
And proved the opposite…

When no one knew my worth, YOU showed me,
How much I meant to you…

When I had issues, YOU supported me,
Showing me how much I need you…

Now, when I look back, I have no regrets,
Because to know YOU is to know LOVE

Harish Natarajan
12.01.2013
Copyright © Harish Natarajan
This poem was written by my husband :) This is what he has to say about this poem :
"Wrote this poem in Hindi in the year 2001 during my B.Tech years..but left writing after that due to work load...but I think the DNA is still there :-)....Dedicated to all the lovely women out there...including my woman :-)"
I came from the realm where darkness resides
Where from my demons I could not hide.
Sorrow, Anger, and Torment pervaded my head
The pain so strong, so deep, I wished I was dead.
My escape was perfect practically by chance
I ran from my demons while they danced.
Now I live in comfort in a world of light
Where silver shines during black night.
In Happiness, Joy, and Love I now enjoy life
Warmth and delight away from strife.
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