Malabika Ray Choudhury | + Follow Poet |
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Let's All Breathe

I can’t breathe! 
                               A harrowing voice to the world! 
                             Echoing every corner of the earth! 
                              This voice will never be hushed!

                   Mother Nature has bestowed us with so much love, 
                                         So many treasures!
                                  Leafy plants, blooming trees, 
                           grassy pastures, immense wilderness!
                               
                                Azure sky with petal-like clouds,
                            Deep fathomless emerald-green ocean 
                                     with tides, high and low, 
                                 Magnificent waves incessantly 
                                  lapping on the sandy beach, 
                                           We have it all! 

                      We are endowed with the same pristine air, 
                      We are blessed with the same sweet water 
                           gushing from the womb of the earth -
                  the fountains, the lakes, the rivers, the oceans.
                                Nature does not discriminate. 

                    Someone can’t breathe - how can we breathe? 
                      Although there is no dearth of air around us. 
                    For some mysterious reason we forgot to care! 

              Our pride, our arrogance, intolerance, our lack of sensitivity, 
                    We forgot to be the human beings we should be! 
                                Another senseless brutal loss - 
                            too many when one is unforgivable, 
                                Is history going to pardon?
                                      Are we ashamed! 
                               Are we lowering our heads! 

       Does skin-colour mean anything except an environmental phenomena? 
                        Black and White -  two sides of a coin. 
                       Can we exist without one or the other?

                         Two children of the same Mother Earth!
                      Still this is happening - one part has everything, 
                                    Nothing for the other!
                 How can that be justice for the highest entity on Earth! 

                           Let’s all breathe the same air around us, 
                                   With no worry, with no fear. 
                           Someone has changed our life forever
                                     By sacrificing his own. 



                       Second Place: I Can't Breathe Poetry Contest 
                                 Sponsor: Richard Lamoureux

Copyright © Malabika Ray Choudhury | Year Posted 2020

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John Watt Date: 6/15/2020 11:10:00 PM Mala, such powerful and poignant words. I think "Someone can’t breathe - how can we breathe?" says it all for me. We are all created equal, and for equality we all must stand. Thank you for using your poetic voice to put words to this clarion call for humanity to put aside bigotry and live as one. "Let's all breathe the same air". Congratulations for your well-deserved win, my poet friend ~ John Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/16/2020 7:41:00 AM John, thank you so much for your thoughtful words of understanding and appreciation. What a powerful message - we are all created equal, and for equality we must stand! Very natural message from you! I am glad to add my voice to the voice of many of my poet-friends - I admire their amazing work in the contest. Best wishes, John.

Subimal Sinha-Roy Date: 6/14/2020 11:38:00 AM Well modulated flowing verse of reality and introspection. Congratulations , Malabika, on your deserving win. Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/14/2020 10:35:00 PM Thanks, Subimal. Really appreciate your thoughtful comments. Best wishes, Mala

Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/14/2020 11:18:00 AM Much to ponder, thanks for entering my contest. Blessings Rick. Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/14/2020 11:32:00 AM Thank you for the placement. It's an honour. Best wishes, Mala

JCB Brul Date: 6/14/2020 11:16:00 AM Coming back to congratulate you! Ohhh, so glad to see this poem emerging as a winner. Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/14/2020 11:34:00 AM Thank you so much, JCB, for your inspiring, encouraging words. Really appreciate your kindness, my friend.

JCB Brul Date: 6/8/2020 7:03:00 PM Magnificent piece! This is the kind of breath I want to breathe especially these times. Keep coming dear poet Mala! More power! Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/9/2020 5:46:00 AM Wow, JCB, how kind of you! Thanks a lot, Dear Poet, your comment means a lot in my journey. We are growing together in an inspiring environment at PoetrySoup.

Besma Riabi Dziri Date: 6/8/2020 2:24:00 PM You breathe genuine words that relates to Humanity.. We are blessed with infinite beauty, just we have to see, feel, appreciate with a heart dipped in Faith and gratitude.. I so much liked and enjoyed your sensitive and profound poetry, Malabika.. thank you so much for sharing your feelings and thoughts. My deepest regards and blessings. Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/8/2020 5:23:00 PM Dear Besma, your comments are so inspiring! I am so delighted that you read the poem, and liked it! It is a rare opportunity to share thoughts and feelings with poetic minds like yours. Thank you so much. My best wishes to you.

John Watt Date: 6/8/2020 11:52:00 AM An amazing write, Mala. Starting with nature and its abundance, and a very moving elegy for George Floyd and all the others who died out of man's inhumanity to man. Your last stanza is incredibly touching. I hope many read this and are moved by it as I was. Blessings to you Mala! ~ John Login to Reply Malabika Ray Choudhury Date: 6/8/2020 12:27:00 PM John, I am so glad you had the time to read my poem. Your comments are incredibly thoughtful! I consider myself so fortunate to share my thoughts and reflections with poets and friends like you. Best wishes, John.