blank verse in the days of a flu
The shadow of a fern on a school building,
forlorn, tiptoeing moments break quarantine.
In this town, we all have the flu; shadows
tick as a slow clock; bars of windows enclose.
A soft sound of furniture exchanging
news, views, smiles; perchance they deem us as asleep.
Beg the buzzing fly for entertainment or
the walls of the school at the other pavement
to project a montage of the ferns or orchids.
On the kitchen a healthy cat helps itself.
We shall survive and lose these droning moments.
© 2009-Copyright reserved Kushal Poddar (reprinting is absolutely prohibited, without permission)
Winds of this night
Hug the old mattress this night,
traces of tears kiss it.
West end windows, moonlit, squeal;
beneath me, the bed sheet tries
to fly amid windy night.
Hug the old mattress this night.
The acceptance of it needs
no words; no words I can say
without denying such silence.
Silence jumps on my old bed
like a two legged ape. Childhood.
© 2009-Copyright reserved Kushal Poddar (reprinting is absolutely prohibited, without permission)
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Comments: 69
We in N. A. and Europe will not know such misery, even though the flu touches here and there.
The healthy cat...........
And childhood...always seems more innocent...
The point of the Newsweek article was on the injustice that will face India and China, which contribute only 3 perent and 10 percent to the Greenhouse problem, but because of climate ! and poverty, will suffer the increased draught, rains, poverty and disease more than
Northern Europe and North America.
Of course, N. Europe and N. America should fix their environmental problems, but China definitely should, too.
Poem 2: I love the way you've personified the mattress as your comforter.
Thank you for posting to The Surreal Circus.
I read and realized that you were talking about where you are, in the flu. Written with compassion and yet, with a ray of hope, as in the healthy cat. (I think you need to come and visit here!)
The second, I also liked as from a child's or an adult's perspective, things can change a lot. Or at times, not so much. (apes scare me, shhh, don't tell them!) Dawn, not you, you're a kitty-kin!
Hugs,
Marilyn
the second one is very sad.
the flu is 'air borne" so stay away from those that cough... and don't ever discount the Drug companies that make their vaccines to promote them!! Good poetry/ prose
a tear stained pillow or "mattress" is the sign of sadness...not enjoying what you have or wanting something that you don't...maybe?
Good for facing the current issue of the flu... Sometimes those "in charge" need to be reminded that we are watching them. The drug companies make a lot of money with vaccines... it is a very corrupt world now days.
May you remain healthy and happy, my friend!
All the quiet things, the shadows, the fern, the cat, vibrates with the message of hope that life will rest, recuperate and plod on.
This Windy Night is such a tribute to what? All of life! never thought about the mattress as a stage before you so poetically paid its tribute. Write on Poddar, you have such a gift!
thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
I recall the Hong Kong flu as a child, our first year in Sacramento, California, around 1960. The heat was astounding enough at 115, but then we we're all so ill as well. The entire family--- flat on our backs for several days; parents, older kids, babies. The dehydration about killed us. It was horrible. I'm with Karen, the sacrifice of quarantine is respectfully tough duty. Hang in there.
Fine imagery.
But these lines are simply GENIUS . . .
"Beg the buzzing fly for entertainment or
the walls of the school at the other pavement
to project a montage of the ferns or orchids."
~ by Master Poet Poddar (and non other)
ONLY YOU could come up with lines like these Poddar! LOVE THIS!
SCREAMS "I'm blessed beyond measure!" ~ because YOU are.