one
tear
trickled
down
broke into a million cries

subtle as an amber sunset
midst blushing orange clouds
as the flames that play duet
with pyre of corpse in shrouds

subtle as the rush of water
cascading in mock wrath
daring to the death 'n slaughter
the rocks that lie in path

subtle as beguiling magic
wrapping mind 'n heart in veil
blurring sadness, memories tragic,
in golden misty dale

What am I?

People aren't as you think
What's black ain't black, what's pink ain't pink,
Beneath the surface it's dark and murky,
What seems simple is odd and quirky

If you see mud, that might be a gem
Hiding beneath the sloth and phlegm,
Silver that shines is ofttimes plate
On nickel 'n zinc and other dead-weight

But dig beneath that dark interior
That hides beneath the glinting exterior
You might discover sommat superior
Unsurpass'd gold that shouts 'Exclesior'.

So don't be quick to adjudicate
Oft as not we don't see straight
You and me, we're not as we think
Our slime is gold, and our jewels stink

air whispers in the vacant places
"speak to me", I said,
"speak to me in your chases,
in your tiptoes as you tread."

I'm speaking, can't you hear
the golden letters in the air,
when the sky is lucid clear,
longing, waiting, for your prayer,

I'm the dance on quivering leaf,
I'm in silent, sweet motif,
I'm in soft, crepuscular light,
I'm the velvet of the night.

i'm writing 'gain 'bout thoughts suicidal
because that is how i feel
and to ** to any gadfly's bridle
at my chance to heal

so here we go with swishing black
swirling round my head
caused by constant onslaught attack
an inner child's been fed

since age fourteen i've been crying
inside cupboards, under table
and when my outer persona's lying
inside i'm feces in a stable

'be happy', 'smile more',
they said to me as teenager,
as if the superficial rapport
could be a sudden changer

arrows shoot with deadly aim
laughter finds its mark
and though i don't show any pain
inside it's dead and dark

i'll give a sigh and plod on again
and hope for brighter time
though inside it feels the constant rain
belies all pantomime.

and why do i write this here?
because i'm a social being
i need sometimes to shed a tear
and feel there's someone seeing

wet eyes a-twinkle with unshed tears
from northern wind's raining spears
grazed silhouette of solitary deer
antlers branching as tree austere

then, a hind of tan and grey
tiptoed forth from underlay
followed close by calves to play
'pon the shadow'd bracken'd brae.

and as the deer midst berries bent
in sweet paradise of wet pine scent
in nature's naked, raw element,
sharp rustle was heard, clear, evident

"soft!", cried hart, "who goes there?"
all looked, still, statues a-scare,
"'tis but me", grinned the hare,
his nose a-twitching in the air.

"Well, welcome, then, my good ol' friend",
said he with nuzzle on nose'd front-end,
"I know I can on you depend
those sharp ears to apprehend"

"smallest hindrance to our meet convivial,
for sound though minor be not trivial,
thus we may enjoy our meal
as our young frolic by mother's heel."

i'd wandered lonely by the stream
a stream that passed me by
lived my life as in a dream
while others climbed on high

i'd tried to tread my own path
but soon got led astray
by the whisper, by the laugh,
by the waggish wit at play

now that stream's become a trickle
now it mocks with evil glee
as it bends into a sickle
as it glints and winks at me.

Sanguine fluids course my veins,
Neurons, synapses, excite my brains,
Nectar of life in unfolding leaves,
Verdant runner-beans ascending weaves,
Roses deep purple with aromas sweet,
Lupins and lettuces, begonias 'n beet,
The sound of blackbirds in morning chorus,
The light of the sun in breaking auras,
The patter of rain quenching the deep,
Herds of cattle, flocks of black sheep,
Stretching wings soaring the skies,
Laughter and smiles, frowns and cries,
Wind and hail, sunshine and breeze,
Love is the essence of all these.

rat-a-tat-tat, the metal annihilator
taught our ears its foreign tongue,
in the hands of violator
takka takka's sung

sowing death and violation
hungry for the mutilation
of a child, of a nation,
brat-a-tat spells termination

it was the third primordial sinning,
first was greed, then came envy,
as long as greed 'n envy's winning,
third is sure to make his entry

bloodshed with green mama, jealousy,
goaded by lust, spouse, father, king,
as one, begetters with their progeny,
takka takka sing

altogether, takka takka takka,
baby, child, mamma 'n pappa,
in the name of Phi Theta Kappa
takka takka sing

as i wax older
memories get stronger
ghosts get bolder
their haunting, longer

whispers always been are getting louder
this world seems much less real
the spiritual that much prouder
trying less to conceal

but woe the strength that once was mine
the strings i used, strong as twine,
to attach 'n bind to Supernal Mind
have fled 'n left me crippl'd 'n blind

i knock on a door feeble 'n lame
shivering reed, battered, ashamed,
stutter as i've forgotten his name,
i lean, exhausted, on door-frame

beyond i sense a thousand souls
connected with mine that reached their goals
deeply embarrassed I curl up inside
but now there's nowhere, nowhere to hide

is there anything, anything at all
that'll allow me to stand up proud and tall,
to emigrate to yon Elysian Fields
as body surrenders to dust and yields

sleep, my child,
drift upon the ether
in gentle mother's smile
as you rest beneath her

sleep, my child,
for there will come a day
when forces far from mild
will come out war to play

when the vicious and the terror
will tear each other apart
leaving nothing but a pallbearer
and a broken heart

till that day, my child, sleep
revel in your youth
dance among the woodbines' creep
the leaves of jagged tooth

amongst the mosses of spring and elves
sleep, my child, sleep,
for men will ever corrupt themselves
as the humble weep

and till the day when evil implodes
when all that's good survives
skip along the sleepy roads
where butterflies lead good lives

hide beneath the buttercup
for its shelter is more true
than all the falseness that's blown up
in world that waits for you

eyes droop
mind-in-a-loop
darkness surrounds
misery abounds

longing for escape
to break free from waters
that stifle and suffocate
in private quarters

i hear the rain
as constant pain
no reprieve
can't self-deceive

i long for air
for light,
but am sunk in despair
no respite

roller-coaster roundabout of life
the hurt, anguish, unending strife,
no strength to take a knife
no strength to end this life

best batten down the hatches
lock the doors with latches
give gasoline and matches
hurrah for quick dispatches

animal writhes on stomach
whispers in your heart
entices you to plummet
from your soul to part

it won't be terrible
you'll get over it
the sin'll be bearable
in a minute you'll quit

the more you think, the more you're caught
in net of sticky strand
don't get caught up in his thoughts
enticement like quick-sand

dart swift across, don't hark back,
engage in some other good deed,
before you know it, he'll stop attack
when he sees he can't succeed

face drawn, pale and pallid,
eyes sunken as spirit tarried,
rattled cage o' tired invalid
fifty suns soul had carried

the flame waned and flickered
in frame worn and withered,
battle scarcely begun
before adversary won

and now the wings unclipped 'n ready
waited for abeyance of inner eddy
waited to be free at last
of physical prison, physical cast

the spirit feels can linger no more
it rattles and shakes and knocks on door
with one last guttural click and snore
breaks free the darkness, begins to soar.

tome of my life
with wrinkled page
torn at the sides
brown with age
thirty years
gone and flown
gone in tears
gone in moan

a tome trampled
by troubled feet
pages tangled
by hands of deceit
scrambled words
in blood-red stain
'cos no-one heard
the crying pain

cold and raining
bad air
stuffed in crates
it just ain't fair

haven't been fed since day before last
never been given a good ol' repast
Dry layers mash every breakfast
no wonder we're so glum 'n downcast

naked patches 'n thinning feathers,
confined in cage, prisoner in fetters,
mold and dirt on my nethers
seems I've been indoors forever

now I'm here
on highest tier
outlook's dire
I'm in the mire

neighbour's dead
was underfed
died of dread
of what lies ahead

we've stopped squawking
nobody's talking
guys are gawking
pointing, stalking

I'm not a fool
i know what this means,
some guy's drool
over chicken and beans

Sea's a-coming as a fountain
When she comes,
As the snow melts off snow-mountain
When she comes,
Sea's a-coming that's for certain,
Coming as a fountain,
Coming as a fountain
When she comes.

Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee, Aye Aye Yippee”,
“Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”.

Sea'll be coming with great forces
When she comes,
As she over-floods her courses
When she comes,
With the governments' endorses,
There'll be floods from all her sources,
Floods from all her sources when she comes.

Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee, Aye Aye Yippee”,
“Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”.

Oh, we'll all be overheated
When she comes,
Oh, the land will be defeated
When she comes,
Oh, we'll all go underwater,
we'll all go underwater,
all go underwater
When she comes.

Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”,
Singin’ “Aye Aye Yippee, Aye Aye Yippee”,
“Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye”.

There'll be no more pink Bahamas
When she comes,
No more margaritas
When she comes,
There'll be no more margaritas
On the pink sands of Bahamas,
On the pink sands of Bahamas
When she comes.

in the song of robin and blackbird
Creator signs His Name
A name that can be seen and heard
by those who shun acclaim

in the work of scribe and artist
shines the inner being
in the music of drum or harpist
speaks the soul all-seeing

in the works o' nefarious schemer
in dark destruction and death
in the silence that shouts like a screamer
in the absence of life-breath

walks the many-faced serpent schemer
for those with eyes to see
the signature of the anti-redeemer
antithesis of eternity

for every person stamps their name
in the deeds they do
igniting hellish fires 'n flame
or letting G-d shine through

so don't be flummoxed by this world
keep your eyes on your goal
for as cherry, almond, or walnut burled
your acts bespeak your soul

golden chariot, by four steeds drawn
riding till the eve from dawn
incandescence, iridescence,
fattening aurum ears of corn

celestial orb, perpetual wonder
servant to her Glorious Maker
rolls in vacant space o' yonder
Obeisant to a Hidden Creator

Perfect globe, fiery love
Healing as the wings of dove
Embracing from the heavens above
A hand enveloped in velvet glove.

With what magic then has moon of white,
Lifeless, cold, Earth's satellite,
Dare presume block sun's light,
In passing over, height for height.

Two spheres they be in heaven far
Natural opposites, heat 'n algor,
One white and cold as ice 'n snow
One yellow golden warming glow

Yet Omnipotent deemed heaven's star
Be same proportion, on a par
To ball of stone, a rock bizarre,
That it change noon to witching-hour.

We, sole witness of this phenomenon,
Must draw from Father some sort lesson
At least, to pause, to stop and wonder
At His creation that knows no blunder.

My eyes have seen the gore, aye, the coming of the sword
As it ***** the village women where the grapes of wrath are stored
For they unloosed fateful lightning of Taliban's abhorred
As the West keep watching on

Tens of thousands bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
Thousands Afghan bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
Tens of thousands bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
As the West keep watching on

I've seen them from the watch-towers as the babies' heads they *****
As they sacrifice on their altars old 'n helpless in their ramp
As they shout their ritiosity by their dim and flaring lamps
That their truth is marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Their truth is marching on

I have heard the sighed-on writ of paper sophistry
That deal with his condemners by twisting history
As the demons, born of women, make ****** tapestry
As the truth is marching out

Glory, Glory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Glory, Glory halleluhja
As the truth is marching out

He has sounded from the pulpit that he'll ne'er regret retreat
He is giving out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul to answer, to condemn the man's conceit
For the youth are marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
For the youth are marching on

From the ***** of the armies of NATO's strategy
To train the Afghan soldiers and equip their military
The Taliban laugh loudly as others die to make men free
As the truth keeps marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
As the truth is marching on

My eyes have seen the gore, aye, the coming of the sword
As it ***** the village women where the grapes of wrath are stored
For they unloosed fateful lightning of the Taliban's swift sword
As the West keep watching on

a smile is the crack that lets the sunshine through,
it shines for others and it'll shine back at you
so however you're feeling, let that sunshine through
it'll make you feel better, fresh and sleek and new.

Far away from world's metropolis
a princess ambled through opulent bliss
of father's palace, grounds and orchards,
raised her eyes to see four birds

birds of fairest plume and tail
from vantage scanned the hills and dale
forests green, pools deep blue
her father's estate as they flew through

'beasts of feather, light of wing,
speak to me in tune and sing
of your travels, your flighty wanderings
in yonder world and teach me things.'

'teach me how they churn the butter,
those who live 'yond palace wall,
tell me, set my heart a-flutter,
teach me things, great or small.'

'for i yearn to venture hence,
far from rubies and emeralds,
the smoke of myrrh, of frankincense,
the liveried courtiers, serfs and heralds'

'of father's court, though i cherish,
and love him with my heart and soul,
i long to 'scape from the garish
from the ordinance and rigmarole'.

the birds, they heard her royal cry
and swooped her up into the sky,
sailed with her through the air,
each one wing for regal chair.

away from the kingly palace,
it's velvet drapes and plush red carpet,
silver trinkets and gold gem'd chalice,
onto an edge of a village-market

Placed her gently on brown'd grass,
on scattered remnants of late repast,
paper-waste and broken glass
as two drawn peasants hurried past

Midst the noise and revelry
o' drunken soldiers and cavalry
shouting out in raucous tune
strewn on steps o' stones ill-hewn

'oh take me back to father's place'
cried the princess, tears on face
staining delicate skin and features
as she sought the feathered creatures

but they had gone and wouldn't return
for twoscore months and more,
the princess was to stay and learn
to live with longing at her core

for her father, so far from her,
for that rare 'n subtle existence
vestige of love to sustain her
as she mourned the time 'n distance

as she counted days and weeks
when once again she'd reunite
with mother's kiss on her cheeks
with father's love, her own birthright,

would berate her on her lateness,
would embrace her in their arms,
tell her of her untold greatness,
tell her of their love, her charm

tell her that no matter where,
in deepest darkness or noise of fair,
in truth her father was sovereign supreme
though unseen, he's with you there.

gold of kings cannot touch it
their robes o' scarlet cannot match it
the wonder that is the flying goldfinch
that holds me in a boxer's clinch

which master craftsman formed this bijou
of rubies carmine, soft white 'n champagne,
its auric bands on wings of two
proclaims aloud 'twas no birdbrain.

i heard them before i saw them
cries of geese cutting the skies
at once natural, at once inhuman,
denuded nature with no disguise

a child in the cupboard wails,
locked inside his wardrobe,
cries the tears of unknown gales,
hides from human probe.

that same child is still crying,
tears of empty yearning,
that same child's slowly dying
as the world keeps on turning.

lives ruled by externalism,
idle chatter and palaver,
egotism, journalism,
pave way to world disaster.

let's tune in to inner world
morality and true goodness
let's stop being swirl'd 'n twirled
ruled by puffed up lewdness

give me a leader of themselves a master
before he drives the world to disaster
if himself he cannot rule
we might as well be led by mule.

horn-rimmed spectacles would fit her well,
a wide-eyed owl surveying tree dell,
scanning everything from her perch,
watching the battle-field, ready to lurch

with still glance, as priest with bell,
all and sundry, she seeks to quell,
with tongue as whip to flail and scourge,
all else besmear, purge and smirch

if she berates, she'll make it clear,
her will is paramount, just quake in fear
from the rooftop she seeks applause
and will rejoice in finding flaws

bumptious 'n pushy, she rules her cell,
hers is paradise, all others, hell,
if you're lucky, you may carry her verge,
and at her bequest, sing her dirge

i hesitate to write
let heart alight
in prance and caper
on blood-soaked paper
squeeze blinded sight
as blobs of night
with ink like mud
scribe life-blood
in skit burlesque
of form grotesque
reveal the hidden
from cell of prison

for pure wine
spirit refined
distilled in heart
through pain and smart
the fruit of mind
from Hades mined,
as minerals rare
as crystalized air,
a c e t i f i e s
'fore human eyes

and poison taints the heavy line
that once in crucible of heart and mind
the hurt and harm from day and year
compressed to diamond crystal tear
in duress constant, heat 'n pressure,
as kernel mauled in wheat corn-thresher
reveals the inner pearl-like sphere
hidden from eye and hidden from ear
now spilt in crave for adulation
for recognition beyond one's station

spilt in scrawl of unnatural saga,
as empty song of Frank Sinatra,
in rigid lines that false betray,
as waves that lie to child at play,
hide the inscrutable, the teeming ocean,
the seething froth of quelched emotion
all to oblige the lust for notice,
as garrulous child, as vivid lotus,
in noisome thirst for recognition
besmirch the purest imagination

where is the true, ingenuous art
the beauty apparent in simplistic heart
without the jazz, the scintillating jive,
the quest to 'have', the unending drive
whose joy is fleeting
as seafarers' greeting
culminates in air
or empty scare,
a ghostly behemoth
of ghastly dedolence
thrives in undergrowth
of curious redolence,
flourishes in hollow
of vacant bellow,
lives in the dark
of empty bark

but yet this world of cause 'n effect,
of light and dark, of sun and reflect,
as sun-drenched wine in oaken cask,
must show its wares in apposite mask,
as gibbous moon to eye discerning
speaks of fire forever burning,
of highs and lows in harmony
of contrapuntal melody,
thus pure must sound as beat on drum
and air give voice to heart that's dumb

sweet soul, tell me your secrets,
let me enter your inner shrine.
what do you crave for if you could reach it?
can i tempt you with bread and wine?

what is your form, if i could see it?
how do you appear in heaven?
your inner essence - can you teach it?
are you neutral or pervading leaven?

I can be purified or debased,
my form depends on the way you face,
your actions and your thoughts and speech
clothe me as a shirt and breech

my cast in heaven can only appear
according to the way you adhere,
so though from place of light am i,
from highest source beyond the sky,
a part of G-d, of divinity,
my form depends 'pon your affinity.

so look at yourself with eyes of steel,
wherein your energy? where your zeal?
according to your constant practice,
is my mien 'fore celestial justice.

I turn away from inner counsel,
bewildered by the truth,
my soul appears 'fore divine council
as rascal, lout, uncouth.

Heaven and Earth, the green and the blue,
In Sea combine, aquamarine hue,
The Cosmic Lips, in open chew,
Above and below, one, not two.

In empyreal arch, teeth as stars,
On ground, the shine of soul-avatars,
As land stretches up to the sky,
So bluest firmament longs to comply.