Poetry

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Campus Victuals

Hear me…friends.

I’m not a foodie but I know when food is unsatisfactory. 

A friend once told me, “Victuals here are tasteless, flavourless!”

The steel-headed me heard her, but remained incredulous

Because all I wanted was only an itsy-bitsy bite.

Another friend said indulging my palate would be awesome. 

Foolish me heeded her. I’m not keen on food but I enjoy a plate or two,

So, on the line I squirmed, prowling around for a plate that’ll do.

Like a starving cat craving milk, I scanned the kiosks nearby,

It soon dawned on me that there is nothing here to buy.

I moved on from the unpleasant, awful sight. Worthless to pay.

Here my eyes feasted on a presentable assortment of the day.

Finally, my taste buds smiled: “A savoury, sumptuousness to relish!”

Oh, the reddishness with which it was all embellished!

But no! It was an awful, flavourless presentation,

An unsatisfactory, unpleasant waste that needs no attention. 

But I was a famished, jaded mouth desperate to stay a little more.

I knew it was all worthless tastelessness not to pay for.

So, I waddled to the booster stand…

You hear? 

Inspired by my students

© 2024 Kuirthiy

WHEN MY BODY WHISPERS, “NO!”

Even when I’ve done good deeds, 

and no one’s behind me to pat me

on the back,

I will continue with conviction. 

And smile…silly amusements.

Even when I’m exhausted

and my body whispers, 

“We can’t go any farther!”

I’ll remind myself: 

“Remember who you’re doing this for!”

Even when I’m a lachrymose shadow, 

And I blink to hide the volcano inside me, 

I’ll smile repeatedly.

Yes. See the stream on my cheeks as joy. 

Even if darkness and sadness encircle me, 

and I have no flashlight to light my way,

I’ll remind myself about 

the souls for which I continue to live: 

“You must find the way…always!” 

© 2024 Kuirthiy

POISE

I'm on this meandering path
whose end I can't see.
So I strike a pose and inhale,
But the path meanders on even more
So I stand and stare...
But then I see a white dot at a distance,
a black dot on a tree nearby,
and a red dot on the ground.
So I shake my head and breathe again.
A while later a white car passes by,
a raven flies away from the tree,
and I see a red ant crossing the road.
So I look up and walk on.
I don't know where this road leads,
but I know where I'm going.
I assume a straight poise!
I walk on as the red ant
stops as if to bit me "bye!"
and dashes into the grass.
I smile.
It is a pose,
and a pause with a poise!

© 2022 Kuirthiy 

THE WOODLAND MARVEL

In the thick, green and shadowy forest,

Where the wild speaks linguistic marvels,

Is where you will find him, staring at the swaying

Tall trees, drying his eyes with their soothing rhythms.

He has longed for a long silence to seethe venomously,

But no one has ever cared or stopped to listen, 

Everyone wants to breathe their own decorated venom,

So, he leaves the clattering town for a rumbling forest,

The two are noisy and alive but one a little more cordial,

The noise, he screens for raucous value and silent words,

But the forest is also venomous, yet it listens.

It whistles, sways, chirps, howls but listens.

The forest talks incessantly, and the town competes,

The town is proud, fronting superiority, venom.

The forest is also venomous, wild and perilous,

But there he is, listening to the woodland stillness.

Speaking silently, to the squirrels jumping by,

The birds rocking on the leafy branches…

He silently expresses his venom, touching his face.

The back of his hand is moist,

His face is wet, but he listens as the forest sways.

But he remains still, the bird chirping but silent,

Surprised, the sparrow stares: 

‘He’s deadly still, but his face is watery,’

marvels the old sparrow. 

‘The town talks and talks…

The forest talks but listens,’ to the sparrow he nods. 

And there, is the woodland marvel.