My heart is a secret garden Poetry Contest
Silent One
My heart is a secret garden.
Make-believe guards stand sentry at the gate—
vigilant, visceral, ready
to keep out trolls, lurkers, pretenders,
and every donkey-ass from my past life.
Cigarettes, booze, and cheap sex
can wander elsewhere.
This time, my garden filters only purity.
Where pride is planted.
In my last life,
I went through the mill—
a chronic druggie, an alcoholic, a whore—
a plot overrun with weeds
and dirty secrets that still claw at my dreams.
But in this new life,
the core of my being is a wonderland:
fresh, free, first-rate, full-fledged, fever-pitched,
sans the forked tongue.
Baby elephants, unicorns, and pegasi
march six by six
through rows of bougainvillea,
through blossoms and budding life.
An orphaned lion cub is saved,
loosed into the wind—
Born Free, finding a home,
a rhythm,
a new secret taking root.
__________________________
It seems, conflicts and even full-fledged wars have become common in the world we live in today. Despite the life-threatening circumstances however we have no option but to live blunting our senses as if nothing has happened. Life too has no less conflicts and yet we have to live. This ghazal reflects this sentiment.
___________________
With this life’s unease I’d to live--
By stifling my wish I’d to live.
Alibis no more, I’d to live,
With banes bare of bliss, I’d to live.
On sail-less boat, unfulfilled dreams,
On a half-baked dish I’d to live.
Bearing burdens unbearable,
Hope on a long leash I’d to live.
Amidst all waging wars in world,
On my inner peace, I’d to live.
_______________________________
Ghazal | 03.05.2026 | bliss, fish, leash, peace, unease, wish
Beneath a tropical sun that glows bright,
Port Louis awakes to the shining light.
A vibrant pulse, a harmonious hum,
Where dreams arise and glowing futures come.
Modern buildings in brick and steel stand tall
Beside colonial shops near their wall,
Whispering history etched in each stone,
A heritage preserved, for ever known.
Port Louis holds a full-fledged banking heart,
With local and global deals split apart,
A commercial hub, with shops quite close by,
Packed with supplies one would dream in the sky.
It hosts an old administrative house
With government seat pitched at the sea`s mouth,
The busy harbour gleams, a sapphire deep,
Where southern breezes shielded, softly sweep.
From Caudan Waterfront, the view takes hold,
A glowing modern marvel, brave and bold.
A culture hub, the Caudan Arts Centre,
Upholds artists and singers` banner.
The streets filled with diverse shades of faces,
Reflect the mixed origins and races
Of the population, a melting pot
Of cultures, creed and colours in one spot
In city of old and new in one shot.
Days passed by to cross sixty and years ran —-
to cross seventy with full fledged activities as I was to scan -
Eventually had to cross Eighty, what to do !
No alternative, but compelled to live too.
Only dragging dull days , swimming in stagnant pool.
No excitement confronting scary shark but to remain cool.
Not to invite golden goose flapping wings in charismatic charm.
All achievements turned obsolete ! Last bell to ring ending life - term.
Every year I pinch-hit on Christmas
for a Christian so devout
That if he had to work on the holiday
he’d just sit and pout
This year was no different from the rest
except he made a slight change
This Christian also became a full-fledged Jew
~ So, I had to cover for him on Chanukah too
To be a fool is too difficult
You can't always think unwise
It comes to little sense when you think only stupid.
You can't simply reject when a Lass smiles
If a fool, you shun. If wise, you smile.
(May the vice versa – fool may smile at the lovely Lass.)
Then comes a thousand trouble
You were wise when you smiled back
You are now a fool while in love.
Your senses tell you; you are a fool to be in love.
Tells your heart you are fair at heart.
Decide you are a fool or wise?
It takes a lot to be a fool--- a full-fledged fool.
It makes sense to be a fool sometime
That sense makes you a wise person
As it needs much wit to be wise
For both live in dreams.
Fool dreams and dreams to dream
The wise dreams and works to materialize the dream
So that the fool can eat the fruits of his wisdom.
Have you decided to be a fool or wise?
Don't be too wise to be a fool.
Call me low birth, make what so fun,
No pink birth, but a proud man’s son,
Fate-bestowed be my birth,
But built I’m by self-worth,
Dare, who’s here ever what I’ve done?
_______________________
Translation | 19.10.2025 | birth, fate, pride, worth
Note: This verse is taken from a Sanskrit play, Veni Samhaar, by Narayana Bhatt of 9th Century CE. It centres around the story of Mahabharata. When Karna is questioned about his birth-- not as blue-blooded warrior, saying that he is just a son of a chariot-in-charge, not a full-fledged kshatriya warrior, he responds with this verse. Veni Samhaar means braiding of hair, a vow taken by Draupadi/Bheema to avenge an insult by Kaurava cousins. Here is transliteration of the text, and feel the force of the Sanskrit verse:
Sootah vaa soota-putrah vaa
yah vaa kah vaa bhavaami aham |
Daiva-aayattam kule janma
mad aayattam tu paurusham || Veni Samhaar ||
A fledgling struggled in the wet grass
he had failed in his first attempt
...The cat wouldn’t
Fueled by nature’s glow
flickers with wondrous bliss
fascinating night blitz
flashes cheers here and there
featuring great nature’s
full-fledged lamp designer:
faithful God, Source of light*.
*Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
September 13, 2023
2nd place, "Pleiades 4" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May; judged on 9/14/2023.
I know now that im older and have experience in matters of the heart
No matter what your head insists, it will want the opposite of smart
You will not be able to make it see reason or dissuade it from its desire
It will only beat in the flames of its own raging fire
It will jump and dance around if left to have its own way
But deprive it and it will soon start to decay
Such a fickle organ with which we carelessly give out
Trusting someone else with its care no doubt
After that so many things can happen or come about
It all depends on their choices and planned route
I feel like it’s a dangerous game we play to entrust
With all the confusion like is it love or is it lust?
How can we leave it up to chance?
Something as important as romance
When it decides its going to rise above
All the way full fledged love
Its over with and done now you can only wait
To see what comes of it, what is your fate?
Will it grow strong and become one for goodness sake?
Or will it take a brutal blow, shatter and break?
If only you could guide it with logic and rational thought from your brain
Maybe then love would make sence, instead it is labled insane.
I know now that im older and have experience in matters of the heart
No matter what your head insists, it will want the opposite of smart
You will not be able to make it see reason or dissuade it from its desire
It will only beat in the flames of its own raging fire
It will jump and dance around if left to have its own way
But deprive it and it will soon start to decay
Such a fickle organ with which we carelessly give out
Trusting someone else with its care no doubt
After that so many things can happen or come about
It all depends on their choices and planned route
I feel like it’s a dangerous game we play to entrust
With all the confusion like is it love or is it lust?
How can we leave it up to chance?
Something as important as romance
When it decides its going to rise above
All the way full fledged love
Its over with and done now you can only wait
To see what comes of it, what is your fate?
Will it grow strong and become one for goodness sake?
Or will it take a brutal blow, shatter and break?
If only you could guide it with logic and rational thought from your brain
Maybe then love would make sence, instead it is labled insane.
romance so full-fledged
beasts and birds bring new stories ---
environmental
20 July 2023
two quarters of moon
with loquacious eyes intent -
full-fledged love language
That's a sin for God and all creation.
A stone-like heart best describes you.
Blood sei, Nubia tears, and a brief elision
Extremely wide and bone-white in hue.
The grin you used to wear long ago
Has vanished into a sea of bitter tears.
The whale you sought in the bay sank low.
bears wisdom and bravery without fear.
Your whole crew is incredibly brave.
With some wild spears in a back-alley saloon,
The mania grew into a full-fledged tidal wave.
They dragged the ship and are now maroons.
Don't travel faraway on one prosthetic foot.
Turn around the vessel; we still hope yet.
A despair pall lingered over the deck soot.
For prancing sake, we've never met.
If you hinder ignoring us, we will all die shortly.
Doom's mind and soul are free of sea spirit.
I hope that you'll be standing by to greet me.
Power derived from the same source to inherit.
Written: June 3rd 2023
The old oak tree.
So happy I wrote: Lovely!
“Let us hear the bluebell call,
the daffodil pray,
the apple blossom bear witness.”
I hip hip hurrah’d this paradigmatic poem.
I read it a few minutes ago and thought aww…
how do I comment now, so Harry will see.
So glad I had read this in the past,
before our dear Harry passed. Suddenly,
I hear one solitary and full-fledged chirp outside.
Has Harry stopped by?
Dabbing an eye.
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