I was looking at a dying man who was asking me for a stone I had in my pocket. He wanted it to survive, but he was a sinner—because a book said he made fun of people and abused them. I watched him grow pale and wondered: should I help him because of his situation, or let him die because of his deeds? Then I thought, why should I care? And I continued walking along the footpath.
(“Splendid Isolation Merit Badge”, 2010, original oil)
Not My Battle
It’s not my battle
Not my hill to die on
Or claim as king.
I’d rather just sit peacefully
On some lonely mountain
Enjoying the sounds of silence.
Sure I can see the dust rise
And hear occasional horns blow
Of the little battles raging far below.
But it’s not my battle
Nor hill to die on,
At least not on this fine day…
(8/9/25)
The background is loud and crowded with plots;
blended conversations, a threat to my thoughts.
Clusters of shapes invade my blank space,
shifting without an object to chase.
You float like a figure, just passing through,
with the lighting too sheen to hold on to you.
When the background is different, you have changed
like an undone puzzle, rearranged.
Do you remember me, who sat at your table?
One leg was wobbly, grape juice unstable.
The roll edges were crisp but hollowish inside
like an unreceived hug, uneven beside.
You spoke about me, but never to me
as if autistics weren't part of humanity.
My mouth was mute, but yet my mind spoke.
I pondered your uneven sleeves like an obscure joke.
Is this still you, in a blue tee, without your mom?
My hands are waxy like Grandma's lip balm.
Speaking is arduous; how does one say, "Hi?"
What if it's not you in the background of my eye?
10-16-2024
Embracing and releasing
moments of life that flow by,
there is no rear view mirror,
which we look into.
Detach to man's fool,
The enemy of your soul
Attach to God's rule.
Please do not leave me in the ocean of pain and fire
Grave is your angriness, the hell of chain and fire
What I got after crossing limits you established in world
The lust which was of no use, all in vain and fire
The each and every suggestion you have in mind, is crazy
What is real? I'm sure you can not pertain and fire
Do you remember the soft moment when you were my mate in bed?
We wandered and loved whether 'twas thick rain and fire
What is religion you can't perceive, keep in heart, dead spirited
The comprehension is in need of arcane and fire
Smile is fake, after you the heart says "am not happy"
Friends of night after you 're just cocaine and fire
January 20, 2023
she's kind towards me, she's so nice;
and I'm sincere to her as well,
we are in something more than love,
what are our dreams, it's hard to tell.
and last night, outside college gate
we met and she said she's afraid
about my love and our careers:
dreams price by detachment'll be paid.
retreat is not good for my dreams,
only to get her skin for love:
skin whose pleasures ain't eternal,
eroding derms are all above.
fire and it's works are my int'rest,
I want to be a volcanist;
she wants to increase production
for people, being a botanist.
I've to spend my life in rocks
by watching curves and sediments;
It's hard for me to be with her
checking insects, impediments.
so, we should not be one in life,
she should marry a botanist,
who loves her and her green wheat farms,
for love who's not an arsonist.
love and marriage are not the same,
we'll be in love though not in arms,
whene'er we'll meet aft that in life,
we'll be happy, not without charms!
September 23, 2022
detachment
as you detach,
i fasten.
loving you,
you grasp me
scared,
to love
i spot a shooting star
you spot it too
and for the first time
we are glaring at different skies.
I am living alone
In barren universe.
My soul seeks a soulmate,
To be so terse.
I stretch my hand in rain,
But, drops don't know my pain.
My heart says there is none
Who can realize love,
I want you to know that,
Love's all above,
This is not such a clue
You know that I need you.
again the dawn is ugly around here
winter in the streets and in us installed
cold pupils stare into the void of eternity
the miniature elephants on the sideboard
fill this life thrown away
only insecure years await us
meaningless situations
soon we will be despondent organisms
and if we were burning in the desert
flying to pieces in space
or even dipped in the dark sea
what difference would it make?
we're speeding towards nothing
my heart lies heavy
verbal abuse with sour words
leaves me feeling blue
When others spoke about me, my emotions did sway
Realized for peace, detachment is the only way
2.10.2021
Written for
L MILTON HANKIN, YOUR BEST RHYMING COUPLET
Syllables checked at poetry soup syllables counter
their selfish stance, meets no response
since we no longer wish to dance
ceasing to reform or cajole
relinquishing wearisome roles
blissful soul, choosing to renounce
14-July-2021
Delusion caused by needless indulgence,
Entertaining urges of lower mind,
That does stifle our innate innocence
Anchoring attention in egos bind.
Cause and effect of being misaligned
Hidden from us, owing to deep stupor.
Myriad desires, our foolish caper;
Exit simple on choosing detachment,
Naked surrender and devout prayer,
Thirsting and yearning for enlightenment.
14-April-2021
(Acrostic Dizain)
Any Acrostic of 10 to 12 lines poetry contest
Sponsor: Line Gauthier
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