Damned by Tanisha Avarsekar
The burden I carry, I shouldn’t be. Just one question… I don’t deserve it. Why me? Forced to trust and smile. Forced to cherish that I’m alive. Punish myself harder, but not the guilt. The land is there, but never the silt. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. […]
Compromising my ego by Tanisha Avarsekar
Only for the sake of victory, am I taking this. Otherwise I would’ve long showed you your place. I’m not afraid to disrupt your pride. My obedience to your wishes is only because I have been taught to respect. Don’t cross the line with me. You won’t win the fight with my fury. Remember, you […]
Both ways I lose by Tanisha Avarsekar
When you jog, I’ll run. And when you run, I’ll sprint. When you win, I’ll lose. But when you lose, I still won’t win. Poetry In Englishwww.poetry.monster
Blue flower by Tanisha Avarsekar
Just when life was starting to bloom, Karma came and turned it to gloom. With only anguish the plant was fed, It had a beautiful blue flower, Now all its petals are dead. Their colors lost in my memory. Copyright ©: 2011 Tanisha Avarsekar ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry […]
Blue eyes by Tanisha Avarsekar
Those blue eyes, they tell a story, Of far beyond and life not merely. Their mysterious coldness too has a reason. Sometime ago, they too had freedom. Now they just beg to be heard. Loss of glory once occurred. They just want another chance. Another look or another glance. ————— The End And that’s the […]
Be there for me by Tanisha Avarsekar
When it finally happens, I expect you to be there for me. I may not have enough energy then to be able to ask… But stand by me, and tell me what’s right. Be my courage, and make me fight. Make sure I survive that ugly phase. ‘Cause I may not even want to live […]
An ode to you by Tanisha Avarsekar
I have made many mistakes in my life. Quite a few of which, you have had to pay for. For some of them, I have gotten an opportunity to apologize. And for some I never will. But however, you must know… That I appreciate everything you do for me. All the misery that you bear. […]
What time are we living in by T. Wignesan
What time are we living in It’s not if but since the future can be told To a broadly verifiable degree What time are we living in: present old Future or has it all gone past already Don’t tell it for honours to politicos They hanker after two-bit history lines Don’t even […]
Villanelle: Oscar Victorius by T. Wignesan
Lock not the door in the face of your fate The intruder lies dimly in your place Will he die for you were he your true mate Soft the dark wind taps in every haste late Makes your darling come lie by your fire-place Lock not the door in the face of your fate Harsh […]
To the author(s) of Manimekalai by T. Wignesan
“Apart from its popular conception of transmigration, (which is) sometimes almost humouristic, Manimekhalai offers a documentary contribution of immense value, under an easily accessible form, on the philosophical speculations of Ancient India. The cosmology of Sankya, the scientism of Vaisheshika, the logic of Nyaya, the materialism of Lokayata, originally related to the Ajivika tradition, (all […]
To Don Quixote, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s A Don Quichotte by T. Wignesan.
To Don Quixote, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s A Don Quichotte by T. Wignesan. To Don Quixote, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet : A Don Quichotte (Poem written in March 1861 that I would Verlaine had dedicated to the Grand Dear Old Man of Letters : Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra – with kind permission, of course, […]
To a woman, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: A une femme by T. Wignesan.
To a woman, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: A une femme by T. Wignesan. To a woman, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet : A une femme (In this traslation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet : « A une femme », I have retained the rhyme scheme to the letter, I hope. T. Wignesan) To you these […]
To a person, they say, frigid, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: A celle que l’on fit froide by T. Wignesan
To a person, they say, frigid, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: A celle que l’on fit froide by T. Wignesan To the person, they call, frigid, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem : A celle que l’on dit froide (Poem written on September 5, 1889 at Aix-les-Bains, which I found a bit jarring with abrupt exclamations […]
The Virgin Maid of Orleans, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: La Pucelle by T. Wignesan.
The Virgin Maid of Orleans, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: La Pucelle by T. Wignesan. The Virgin Maid of Orleans, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s La Pucelle To Robert Caze* Even as the blaze crackled around the stake’s pyre, Joan was deafened by the clergy’s brutal chanting, Harsh eyes with hate from all the windows demeaning, […]
The Evening Soup, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: La Soupe du soir by T. Wignesan
The Evening Soup, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: La Soupe du soir by T. Wignesan The Evening Soup, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s La soupe du soir To J.-K. Huysmans (Verlaine here paints a stark tableau of working-class or peasant life shorn of any symbolic or imaginary references. Even if I see no reason to keep […]
Prison Souvenirs, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Prière by T. Wignesan.
Prison Souvenirs, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Prière by T. Wignesan. Prison Souvenirs, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem : Souvenirs de prison, March 1874* (Verlaine was sentenced to serve a term of two years in prison for having shot his erstwhile lover in the arm/hand, the legendary poet Arthur Rimbaud, ten years his junior, on […]
Prayer, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Prière by T. Wignesan.
Prayer, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Prière by T. Wignesan. Prayer, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem : Prière (One of Paul Verlaine’s later poems, after having gone through early success as a poet, love, family life, and yet another kind of relationship with Rimbaud, crime, prison, drunkenness, unrequited love, divorce, and intense inner turmoil. T. […]
Post coitum omne animal triste est sive gallus et mulier by T. Wignesan.
Yes, no cockerel who rules the cackling roost Will stomach slander from Latin master; But who will stand aside and let the ghost Of hints slur old motherhood’s register. Manhood must of needs hang its head in pain After all the sweat and toil in loins of love; After millions of squiggly soldiers in vain […]
Plaidoirie for a “Prince” of Jaffna by T. Wignesan
“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Nobel Prize by T. Wignesan Blue blood gushes when heroes die From gory wounds on battlefields Not in castle intrigues when for a lie Crowns use commoners as shields. A royal house does not construct itself After centuries have broken tradition […]
Petrarchan Sonnet: If no one else breathed in this wide, wide world by T. Wignesan
If no one else breathed in this wide, wide world Will one know one exists under this sun Or how will he guess he’s the only one If none thought of him in some other world Will he then climb upon some hill all bold To announce: Where is there another son Not just the […]
Paris, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Paris by T. Wignesan.
Paris, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: Paris by T. Wignesan. Paris, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem : Paris ( For those who may be interested, this poem by Paul Verlaine presents more difficulties than his other rhymed quatrains I have read, but then this may only be a personal feeling. T. Wignesan) Paris cannot lay […]
Nevermore, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: Nevermore by T. Wignesan
Nevermore, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet: Nevermore by T. Wignesan Nevermore, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s sonnet : Nevermore (In this translation of Paul Verlaine’s « Nevermore » , I must say I felt inveigled into adhering to the fixed form by making some unnecessary allowances just in order to respect the rime scheme. It would […]
Master Valluvan, the long-misunderstood Tamil Mentor by T. Wignesan
Poetry In Englishwww.poetry.monster
Limerick: Once a Great Leader with empty pockets by T. Wignesan
Once Great Leader with empty pockets Strode our World distributing nuggets Nuggets Made in China Slick smooth like Godiva Now makes Godiva China rockets. © T. Wignesan – Partis, 2013 Poetry In Englishwww.poetry.monster
Criss-Cross Acrostic*: Ai My Eye ! by T. Wignesan
I Was Saw Eye Eye Saw Was I Eye Was Saw I I Saw Was Eye *Construe as “words” not as “letters”: Lines 1 and 3 read alike reversed; Lines 2 and 4 read alike reversed; likewise vertically and diagonally from up-down or down-up mode. © T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013 Poetry In Englishwww.poetry.monster
Copla Suelta: The One and the Same Dream by T. Wignesan
If you must dream the dream I dream Then the dream comes true when you wake But who dreams first Yet if you wake before the dream Has had time to gestate and make The dream will burst Is there only one dream out there The kind we watch ponder record And hang up high […]
Ballade: In favour of those called Decadents and Symbolists, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s Ballade: En faveur des dénommés Déca by T Wignesan
Ballade: In favour of those called Decadents and Symbolists, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s Ballade: En faveur des dénommés Déca by T Wignesan Ballade : In favour of those called Decadents and Symbolists, Translation of Paul Verlaine’s Ballade en faveur des dénommés Décadents et Symbolistes for Léon Vanier* (The texts I use for my translations are […]
Am I the Assassin or the Undertaker by T. Wignesan
For Palani I He stopped coming our way again He was no where in sight at school Then, after a long absence In the pit of the Chan Ah Tong padang He came and stood at one corner of the field He looked resigned grave A stoic smile hovering over his lips Over his virgin […]
Whispers of Immortality by T. S. Eliot
WEBSTER was much possessed by death And saw the skull beneath the skin; And breastless creatures under ground Leaned backward with a lipless grin. Daffodil bulbs instead of balls Stared from the sockets of the eyes! He knew that thought clings round dead limbs Tightening its lusts and luxuries. Donne, I suppose, was such another […]
The Song Of The Jellicles by T. S. Eliot
Jellicle Cats come out tonight, Jellicle Cats come one come all: The Jellicle Moon is shining bright– Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball. Jellicle Cats are black and white, Jellicle Cats are rather small; Jellicle Cats are merry and bright, And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul. Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces, Jellicle Cats have […]
The Rum Tum Tugger by T. S. Eliot
The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat: If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse. If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat, If you put him in a flat then he’d rather have a house. If you set him on a mouse then he only wants […]
The Old Gumbie Cat by T. S. Eliot
I have a Gumbie Cat in mind, her name is Jennyanydots; Her coat is of the tabby kind, with tiger stripes and leopard spots. All day she sits upon the stair or on the steps or on the mat; She sits and sits and sits and sits–and that’s what makes a Gumbie Cat! But when […]
The Naming Of Cats by T. S. Eliot
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn’t just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or […]
The Hollow Men by T. S. Eliot
Mistah Kurtz — he dead. A penny for the Old Guy I We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass Or rats’ feet over broken glass In our dry cellar […]
The Boston Evening Transcript by T. S. Eliot
THE READERS of the Boston Evening Transcript Sway in the wind like a field of ripe corn. When evening quickens faintly in the street, Wakening the appetites of life in some And to others bringing the Boston Evening Transcript, I mount the steps and ring the bell, turning Wearily, as one would turn to nod […]
The Ad-Dressing Of Cats by T. S. Eliot
You’ve read of several kinds of Cat, And my opinion now is that You should need no interpreter To understand their character. You now have learned enough to see That Cats are much like you and me And other people whom we find Possessed of various types of mind. For some are same and some […]
Sweeney Erect by T. S. Eliot
And the trees about me, Let them be dry and leafless; let the rocks Groan with continual surges; and behind me Make all a desolation. Look, look, wenches! PAINT me a cavernous waste shore Cast in the unstilled Cyclades, Paint me the bold anfractuous rocks Faced by the snarled and yelping seas. Display me Aeolus […]
Sweeney among the Nightingales by T. S. Eliot
APENECK SWEENEY spreads his knees Letting his arms hang down to laugh, The zebra stripes along his jaw Swelling to maculate giraffe. The circles of the stormy moon Slide westward toward the River Plate, Death and the Raven drift above And Sweeney guards the hornèd gate. Gloomy Orion and the Dog Are veiled; and hushed […]
Rhapsody on a Windy Night by T. S. Eliot
TWELVE o’clock. Along the reaches of the street Held in a lunar synthesis, Whispering lunar incantations Dissolve the floors of memory And all its clear relations Its divisions and precisions, Every street lamp that I pass Beats like a fatalistic drum, And through the spaces of the dark Midnight shakes the memory As a madman […]
Preludes by T. S. Eliot
I THE WINTER evening settles down With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o’clock. The burnt-out ends of smoky days. And now a gusty shower wraps The grimy scraps Of withered leaves about your feet And newspapers from vacant lots; The showers beat On broken blinds and chimney-pots, And at the corner of the street […]