Each pair of feet sauntered peacefully along the street,
So did the streams of sweat that coursed down their faces as homage to the heat.
But all their faces were stained with a blank stare,
And their demeanor showed all the signs of despair,
The joy-sorrow balance seemed to be even;
But the wrenching agony inside them could never be hidden.

Their silences were so deep for no words were spoken.
And each heart beat as if it was already broken.
But no one was hurt – at least exteriorly,
Yet their individual anger inside churned fiercely.
That anger I tell you was every man’s only defense;
For how else would you live in such a world of indifference!

Those gentle evenings when the cool breeze embraced us
When jokes, dreams, and old stories were told en masse
When our laughter penetrated the darkness of night
When every moment was nothing but delight!

To sitting alone and wondering where you are
To the coldness of my blood despite my heart's fever
To your seat empty, and yet you ruled with might
To a dark sky: where the stars no longer come out at night!

Our ancestors brought us here,
And blessed us with a marriage as this.
Sweet voices around us I now hear,
To mark the beginning of bliss.

Your mother won't stop smiling.
Your father is chatting with his crew.
Your brother to your sister is whispering,
"I can't believe it's true."

My heart is overflowing with love,
As your face glistens beneath its veil
All I need before me I now have
And all these things to my life will avail.

They carry his corpse to be buried
The ceremony has been technically hurried
On their lips and faces they seem to mourn
But deep in their hearts is scorn!

The wind made the earth's constituents rise in a spiral fashion
And that cyclone-like sight gladly amazed we
All our worries seemed lost in that temporary hallucination
For nothing before had had the power to set us free

Every night was, but a weeping rehearsal
A preparation for the wailing of doomsday
The deepest tears heard the call of his soul
And every stream flowed as if only to obey

Their slogans and clatter mingled with untold fury,
As they charged towards him like a fierce gale,
His eyes widened, his joints collapsed, his face was pale,
But they just didn't care; he had to be dealt with duly.

The shy moon gave his face a sinister veneer
And made all his homely features quickly disappear,
So all they could see was a man afraid -
Afraid because of the guilt his heart bred.

With broken bones and bleeding flesh he lay half dead.
The last piece of life wrestled within him.
Only then was a voice from the crowd heard that said;
"Oh no! It was not him!"

A gentle spirit: my man
Your boy: I saw the sun
Into your hands I'd run
You and I: one!

The laughter: the fun
The things you made me learn
Love: never to be undone
Man: proud to be your son!

Thus you came,
From the fourth heaven with a silent whisper
I could remember your name
And for my state, you were the perfect visitor.

I could recall those moments
Utterly blissful; through and through
When you freed me from bonds and torments
For no other power I knew, but you!

A home was built, tended, but is now forsaken.
A man was born, loved, but was swiftly taken.
Our hearts were calm, bruised, but are now broken.
Our hopes were frail, lost, but the eternal word was spoken!

When we met under favorable auspices
Starry skies and bright moon were the only witnesses
It was the dawn of a bright new age
New play, new actors for the stage
New everything - the old completely forgotten
It was like scribbling on fresh page
When this our friendship was begotten

When we met under favorable auspices
All I could see was smiling faces
The joy completely penetrated me
Then left me unnerved - longing for thee
Was it day or was it night?
All I could recall was the light
For it was blinding and surreal
I guess it meant our friendship was real

When we met under favorable auspices
In your mind were a thousand guesses
I wondered too - how close the deities could bring
Heaven closer and a marvelous song to sing
It was harmonious - a deafening symphony
I cried when my ears touched that melody
For it left my heart awed and asunder
And now, every fourth May, I shudder

Each man took the road that led to his home
Each man carried the things he called his own
Her heart broke when she recalled his name
But in her agony, none of her 'loved ones' came!

Lost between dusk and dawn
Torn amidst smiles and frowns,
Sadness clothed in happiness' gown
Is how I am with tears down!

You can see it in my eyes
All my hope is lost
I need a glimpse of paradise
Even if it be a ghost!

I whispered a thought into her ear
For there she was - close and near
But what I saw filled me with fear -
And down her cheek coursed a tear.

Her smile was the perfect item of his devotion
And it's loss meant the start of his deterioration
He sees not now what he saw then
And his woes are such that no man may pen

When you feel betrayed
By life's every moment
When the dominant emotion is hatred
And all appointments are marked with torment
When smiles never come your way
And you suffer a heart's cancer
When your life starts to decay
Love is the answer!

The snowflakes melted when they touched her heart
And her breath dispelled the cold of every man’s hearth
Her touch was like the promise of an ancient god
And her glance pierced deeply like an invisible sword

It's the image I see on my wall
And all the features I observe closely
The smile is like an ever sounding knoll,
That bids me seek that union boldly
My energies are well spent - I will not relent
For many joys to my life she's already lent

She took a lifetime to decide,
yet the vision in her mind was complete.
All those feelings were hidden inside;
for words of affection, she could not speak!

Her heart stopped its beating,
And the blood in her veins froze.
We were crippled by the resultant feeling;
And that loss brought us endless woes!

Warm winds blew on the thirtieth day of March
And all the coldness of men's hearts was expelled
The inklings of love that were ignited begun their search
And men of stone and crust were equally compelled

The strength of her embrace was as a salve to my soul,
And her love, - like reins -  my life would control.
Her glance was the perfect knell to my ear,
And no moment was more blessed as when she was near!

The winds propelled her scent to far and distant lands
Her smile was the portrait everyman held in his hands
Her voice like a melody sounded sweet in my ears
And her glance like magic brought an end to my tears!

The image in her eyes was the perfect door to that hidden world
And all her beholders had the trappings of the meek and mild
But what they saw was nothing of the ordinary
And it'd be uncomely to label it 'bereft of glory.'

Reluctant tears roll down your cheeks
And all those fears obscure your wits
The joys around you are easily missed
And your life to sorrow, a portion is leased

When that pleasure of pursuit is gone
And their hearts are not broken but torn
When all their promises fade into thin air
And each other's faults they can no longer bear
When beauty mutates into disgust
And with passion breeds hatred for the past
When togetherness becomes a catalyst for disaster
And all those fights bring no peace thereafter
When every word has its dose of malevolence
And every memory leads them to another dark place
When their souls are infected by a toxic repulsion
And gestures of love go out of fashion
When they can no longer see eye to eye
Nor walk together side by side
Then their wells of love are all dry
And that dearth they can no longer hide
When this and many other symptoms prevail
Then surely, the friendship has started to fail

A woman unable to grieve her love
Her tears form an endless stream
They say, 'It's orders from above.'
'And Oh, how deeply we loved him.'

A son unable to see his mother
Lost he is in unfathomable thought
Strength for every new day he must gather
A divine light - this he has already sought.

A daughter unable to be consoled
Endless tears daily she weeps
Her emotions heretofore ne'er controlled
And deep inside, all the pain she keeps!

When I held your hand as a young boy
When we trod about with so much joy
When I looked outta the window in your car
When we both looked at a shinning star

When we spoke on the phone from afar
When I sent you a song on WhatsApp
When we laughed and joked thereafter
When you found out I could rap

When you left us without warning
When we couldn't stop mourning
When we imagined you'd suddenly appear
When we really wanted you near!

Where you at, Dad? Where you at?
All I have is a tear in my eye
And a deep hole in my heart
I miss you. I can't wait to die.

Disfigured, consumed, denied
In which man can I this pain confide?
Your legacy is my pride
You were mighty when you died!

You left without a last embrace
Before I could see a last smile on your face
My heart bleeds; my eyes tear
Every moment, I long for you to be near.

the desert sands must first grow cold
all the tales of ancient man must be told
the sun's rays must return to their source
and tears from all men's eyes must course

She read every line like a jurist,
As if her fate depended on it.
But he was sure her love was the purest,
And so, he filled his writings with wit.

He couldn't see her reaction,
He only imagined her smile.
And his words which expressed compassion,
Freed her from the feelings of guile.

None can understand my pain like you do
None can understand the things I deeply rue
I wish we'd love and forever stick like glue
For, "behold, you make all things new!"

This heart has pumped blood to my brain for 30 years
But this heart, got its love and life from your heart
So my tribute, my homage to you can only be my tears
And in silence, in solitude, your memory brings me comfort.

Your body in flames
Unable to call out our names
Slowly you gave up your breath
In agony, you met your death.

Your image disfigured
Consumed beyond recognition
Our estate beleaguered
Volatile things and their ignition.

Our eyes blinded by tears
Consolation and its lost appeal
The act confirmed our fears
The pain is deep - for real!