All work ethics and human virtues, he hoards
for twenty-five years, he has never stepped on mud
in him, civil service has a lord
every signboard shows he’s a man of his word
against financial crimes, his clothings include a sword
the spectrum of his fans is nowhere near broad
and has rejected any pen that has written fraud.
Categories:
signboard, appreciation, corruption, courage,
Form: Rhyme
Downtown
broad squares
highway
out of these places
every nook and cranny alleyway,
shabby signboard,
makes a terrifying sound
when the wind blows,
we open a very narrow door
and meet an old man
who greets us with a warm smile
across an iron cage
we are always curious
about the treasures buried
in the darkness behind him
They are of no use to him.
Where are you taking all valuables
and putting them away?
from the people
trying to end up hunger
Like the sound of the wheels
of a train moving away,
there was always silence that swallowed the light.
And he was the richest in our town
Of course,
reputation has always been like this
"Not even a person."
What happened to the old man
who took great pride
not having a single person
to pick up the items
Where did his cash and gold go?
Were his poor clients successful?
must ask pawnshop best customer
of the old man,
snoops down
the streets of prosperous pawnshops
in the 21st century mega cities
Tokyo
Shanghai
New York
London,
and Dostoevsky,
We must read his book.
Categories:
signboard, love,
Form: Free verse
You were exceptional
among the ancient Indian emperors
with vast learning,
yet your silhouette stands
under the signboard,
engraved with ‘Intelligent Fool’,
in the recess of history.
It was tenable
to transfer the capital
to the thorax of your empire.
But why’d you drag
the people of Delhi to Devagiri?
Your innovations turned
curses and corpses
in improper implementation.
As a ruler’s thoughts
fall into the maelstrom in brain,
his subjects
sink into the fathomless suffering.
Nous deprivation determines
the decline of each reform.
It’s fate
you’re reborn on the earth
again and again.
Muhammad Bin Tughlug(1324-1351), was an ancient ruler of Delhi.
Though he was a learned man, his reforms, including transfer of
capital from Delhi to Devagiri, failed due to improper implementation.
First published in Hawaii Review (University of Hawaii)
Categories:
signboard, inspirational,
Form: Free verse
It was a ladder called Death
I found myself at its foot, a bit foggy in the mind,
Hurt in the heart and worn out with everything else
Next to it, was a signboard on which was written
"Climb with a smile or with tears, it matters not,
Whichever, you will have to climb!"
Looking back at my life, I saw only pain, suffering,
Struggles, hurt and regrets!
And now, having come to its final stage,
What was I supposed to do?
Smile or cry as I would climb the ladder?
Pray, I have smiled while I lived, I have smiled
At those moments during which I was immortalised
At those moments when everyone would tell me
You should smile more!
Yet, I was the only one aware of how empty my smile was
How empty indeed, even if it lifted others off their feet!
I looked up the ladder and saw not their end,
Since I have trained myself to smile with emptiness all this time
May I do so this time too, while climbing this last ladder known as Death!
For Contest: The Smile at the Foot of a Ladder
Written on 28th April 2019
Categories:
signboard, death, life, sorrow, stress,
Form: Free verse
So much stunned at man's alienation
even in the man-made world.
Stunned at the human folly to lust for relations
carrying the signboard "Strictly Prohibited".
Wisdom nullified at the foolish acts
and relationships ruined by the misunderstandings
and egocentric behavior.
Consistent silence not willing to bear any interference of words;
still personal secrets roar in public.
Virginity tarnished by the compelling circumstances.
Mankind dehumanized by the hectic activity
and illusions shatter in face of grim reality.
The very inspiration results in dissuasion
and the Quality crushed under the heavy feet of Affectation.
So much stunned at the talent gone wasted for so many years
as man gets trapped in the wheel of existence killing all soft feelings.
Categories:
signboard, anxiety,
Form: Prose Poetry
Here by the edge
Downtown district;
A heartland survives
So many moods
Flavours that stretch;
Activity distracts
All sorts of trade
In brisk commotion;
Cash now plastic
Buy and sell
Your old junk here;
Fools fill full
Old signboard
Humours offbeat;
Tourist cameras click
Old antique shoppe
Uneasy display;
Haunting aura lingering
Take a sure peek
Look at old things;
History sighs here
Further down
This street facelift;
Old ways and new clash
Wet market stalls
Fresh produce vie;
Customers explore wares
I waltz by
To find something;
Distraction collides
Old and new
New and old ways;
Sobriety alludes
Leon Enriquez
02 May 2014
Singapore
Categories:
signboard, crazy,
Form: Haiku
footprints in the beach are her ways of saying "don't stop my heart is ready to open" just when i raed where they lead a Jealous wave swallows them
come oh! wise man of the few read where it leads
a distant signboard in thick darkness are her actions of saying "tell me you need me, i will tell you i need you more" but i cant see the arrows head
should i turn
should i stop
should i head on
traffic lights in misty mornings for a color blind aged are her ways of saying "my heart, i trust you with" i see the dying light but what is it green
is it yellow
is it red
come oh young man of eagles vision tell me
should i head on
should i be ready
should i stop
Categories:
signboard, chocolate, confusion, sad love,
Form: Blank verse