Poetry

New Beginning

Desiring a quick relief
like emptying the bladders
at three in the morning
I, restlessly
roll in my bed
disturbed
by the sounds
of barking dogs
and irregular snorting
of my rather placid spouse
lulled in her respite
quite unaware of my transgression
while I touch
deliriously
The contours of
Unsurpassable virginal beauty
Marvelling
The throbbing sensation
Sensually pleading
That the windows
Should be opened
And I yield
Submissively
To nature's device
Freshened by the soft breeze
Tiptoeing to my humid room
leaving behind the age-old scriptures
extolling the denial,
As something obsolete
or even abominable
Stunting our growth
And I pray, fervently
For a new beginning
With the rise of
Virile sun
Tightly clasping,
My trembling hands.

Ranjan Amarasinghe

At the Parting

Lord! spare me the pain and anguish,
When I'm forced to cast this fetter,
Grant me leave it in my slumber,
And never know for better.

In nature's restful oblivion, may I
Slip from this mortal frame,
For love of life might want to sigh,
And make excuses lame.

To part would be a struggle then,
Though part one day we must,
Spare me the knowledge
of how and when,
And in thee, don't take away my trust.

George Eddie

Honourable Marikkar

Disputes, disputes
Lawyers busy
With their litigants
Before your honours
You are in smiles
Although you are
In a world of disputes
That is because
The resolution
Would be easier
With a relaxed mood
That you prefer to be
So that we juniors
Feel free to appear
Before your honours
You are to leave
For convenience sake
We have to lament
For good times to lose
We had with you
We wish well and happy
For the rest of your life.

D. K. Piyarathna

Rock Violets

In an old clay pot, rock violets display their loveliness
Just awakened from a dewy sleep
Stirring gently in the breeze
Shaking dew-drops nestling deep.

Three petals like mermaids' curls
Stand on slender stem
Amid painted leaves of emerald swirls
To adorn their royal queen.

A pale floret within each bloom
Embraced by purple petals soft
And washed in heliotrope water
from the friendly clouds afloat.

They poured their hearts in sweetness
With the gentle shimmer of dawn
Enchantment possessed me with those
Luminous purple violets in the morn.

Caryl Nugara

Dearest and Nearest

Parents are our dearest
Who showed us the guiding light
Our childhood memories of the past
Made our futures bright.

My father who was strict and stern
But soft in heart helped everyone needed.
Whether rich or poor, near and far
He lent his hand so passionately

Vivacious and lavish was my mother
Grandchildren awaiting mouth watering food
Tasty foods McDonalds and Chinese
Never missed her weekend special.

We owe you both, so much
Taking us on the correct path
We keep up our heads and shoulders
It is all because of the right vision

You will always be in our hearts
Remembering you in the month of October twenty eighth and ninth
As your b'days fell on these two days
May you both attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

Ruwan Suriaaratchie

A scent of affection . . .

When rough waves rise up
In quick succession,
as if in madness
My heart begins to sob constantly
In loving memory of you.
Your pathetic struggling, in the deep sea
palpitates my heart with fear
So, my Dearest, please,
Row your boat back to the shore
With blessings of the Gods
For, even your shadow is pleasing to me.

When loneliness and darkness
Wrap up my body and soul,
A stream of hot tears
fill in my eyes from wave to wave
The scent of sweat of yours
Mixes with the sea breeze,
I get alone in the shore
Keeping my memory with you.

May your figure emerge
on the foams of rolling waves . . .
May your scent be felt
on a whirling wind
May your attractive smile
be seen in and around my eyes
May my mind be filled with pride
Whenever I remember you . . .

Sudath Jayatissa Hewamadduma

Dear Teacher

Your shine was so powerful
as many a lamp you did light
enabling to shed brighter light.

Your guidance was so great
as many from the unknown
came to the regions of known.

Your presence and even shadow
was so helpful and encouraging
as you have saved many
when drowned in the
sea of ambiguity.

But...the click of a button
seems to keep you away
from the curious faces
and from chalk and board.

Yet...I wonder and wonder;
the replacement can ever
provide the shine, guidance
and the love and affection
shown by you Dear Teacher!

A. Jayalath Basnagoda

Lake's shimmering water

Through the vista of the window,
I glanced at lake's shimmering water
Its closer view is twinkling, dancing,
but far away water is silently mystic.

It's greenish but mud tinged water,
Resembles a smooth sheet of brown glass,
Twinkling, dancing, yet silently mystique,
I felt deeply, it resembles a man's soul.

However, active or inactive a man is,
There's good and bad qualities in him,
muddy brown water with a tinge of green,
Like tarnished, yet worthy soul of a man.

The journey of life is long, interwoven,
Enigmatic soul gets affected by deeds,
of the owner, whether those good or bad,
like the water of the lake, greenish but muddy.

For me it's difficult to comprehend the message,
which the water is struggling to pass to me,
to grasp that message, rationally I must think,
why am I dragging here, a soul of a human being?

Soul, man, life, death; its much complicated,
I'm confused thinking of rippling water and soul,
without enjoying magnitude of nature, its beauty,
engaged in a web of hair splitting theories, I'm a fool.

Radha ranjani Jayewardene

Song of the Seasons

The dawn of a new beginning
past left behind at last
hopes budding and rising
as a ray of light upon them is cast

Now life has reached its prime
as prospects are in full bloom
to nurture or to perish,
a decision to be taken soon

The withering and wilting has just begun
turning green so vibrant to shades of brown
still retaining its majestic beauty
wearing in pride, old age's crown

The bitter cold and ruthless winds
arrive to carry the spirit away
but under the ice and after the dusk
lies rebirth and the dawn of a brand new day

Nivanka Fernando