anytime we could be gone
and there’s no coming back
anything could happen to us
and in the big picture
our differences don’t matter
it makes sense to look out
for each other
rather than fight
all these wars
they are so horrendous
children dying
such shattering images
that break our spirit
and leave it lost
what do we gain
by doing harm
why this violence
these bombs and bullets
this spilling of
innocent blood
when will it stop?
the world can seem
in a moment
like all human rage
and violence
were directed
against you
slowly vapourising
your body
your mind
rags of language
are of no use
when everyone
looks strangely
at you
as though you
were some
mythical creature
come to existence
to fade away
only you know
the pain
only you know
how it feels
to lose your life
because it is yours
and no one else’s
only you know
these evil people
their network
how they work
trying to kill you
and you die
fighting them
now with your
near invisible fists
throwing punch
after punch
at this
multitudinous
devil.
If we were all to swear
not to cheat
there wouldn’t be
any quarrels
any fights any war
it is deceit at the root
of all violence
it is the desire to grab
what is not yours
it is hurting
your neighbour
your brother
your sister
it is the deviousness
of subduing others
to your will
silencing their voices
robbing them
of their dignity
that is why
it is better to die
than be a slave.
meant for electricity
and the Internet
the doors and windows
of our homes
were swinging open
and shut
laughing hysterically
at us
none of us knew
what was happenning
and in shock we could
not speak
we were struck dumb
blood flowed from
our eyes
instead of tears
as the pain from
the whipping
increased
and we could see
the sky turn black
and roar like a demon
and then it was falling
at high speed with
a shrieking voice
full of madness
and we looked at it
in total terror
while it crushed us
completely
and no one was
left alive
there was
only silence
after all the violence.
of my family
I had to bear
all the drunken
violence
the deprivation
of food
the sexual abuse
I had to bear
and the memories
of all this are so bad
they make me cry
this was too much that
I had to bear
it makes me wish
I was dead
I swear.
wrecking all
my thoughts
now broken
like pieces
of ice melting
and I am being
stabbed all over
as I scream in horror
but I don’t see anyone
though blood pours
out of gashes
in my body
drenching the earth
on which I fall and die.
the world has turned
white with fright
and then there was violence
which was so puzzling
I still can’t figure it out fully
maybe life is just a dream
and we but toy soldiers
in the drama that engulfs us
and such tragic creatures
we are
what choice do we have
but death
can anyone dispute that
animals of a kind we are
living beings that die
life is such a lie
all joy and fun and fantasy
and then a full stop
that spot of black is our death
and it can happen to anyone
of us anytime
so nothing matters
now that we are going to die
and become bones and air
we ought not to care
life is nothing
death is all
it will keep you with it always
close to its dark heart
and life a childish infatuation
almost a false memory
an inconsequential happening
we are given
like puppets we are made to dance
we know we do not stand a chance
and we watch ourselves die
like we once saw broken kites fly
till they crashed into trees or buildings or grounds
hush!!!!! death the policeman is doing the rounds.
came to attack me
I wondered what
I did to them
as I broke
into pieces of sweat
my body was
no more solid
and I felt immediately
what it meant to be
decimated
in a gas attack
a brawl a war
it was like that
that is how I felt
when my body
crumpled
I was shattered
into shards
of some kind
though strangely
still alive
although there was
no coherence
to myself
I was so scattered
I was blood
I was flesh
I was bone
I was vomit
I was the broken beggar
I was the miserable prostitute
I was so many unfortunate people wailing
weighing on me
there was so much howling
from the tunnels of the cities
and the slums in the villages
the sick the maimed the mad
I was all that I was able to understand
this it was clear to me
I was everyone’s crying heart
everyone’s hurting mind
and then just like that
the lights went out of me
and I died.
in the streets
where hollow buildings
aflame ask
what do we do now
what do we say
outside the city
where land meets sea
birds are tearing the sky
to pieces
and all the alphabets
have fallen on the ground
lines lead to squares and circles here
in the deep division
of the multiplying mad world
round and round
the clusters of burning lights
flowing into the darkness.
The above poem is from my first book Reeling (2012).
and left it heavier.
The sore day
hangs itself
in streets colliding
in the growing dark
losing your step
the angry moon
drags you like a drunk
to your door
and leaves you to die.
The above poem is from my first book Reeling (2012).
Dominic Alapat 