The last days of a ruthless tribe

. discrimination, human rights, hypocrisy, justice, poems, poetry, racism . , , ,

IMG_0740

I realize that bearing the consequences
of my and other generations
is a perpetual mea culpa.

Our race has plundered, exploited, and killed
for hundreds of years
and still we keep going,
justifying;
not bothering

No, because
we leave for holidays away from home
we go and leisure, ski, and hike
and we do yoga and go shop.
Have a nice day.

I realize that conceding the mistakes
of my and our dominant tribe
is a distressing awakening.

Our race has ridiculed, humiliated, and crushed
for hundreds of year
and still we persevere,
explaining;
not accepting

No, because
this is our freedom of expression
these are our values to defend
this is our autonomy.
Have a nice day.

I realize that brooding on failures
of my and our pale-faced clan
is an endless contemplation.

Our race has destroyed, polluted, and changed
for hundreds of years
and we still continue,
explaining;
not realizing

No, because
we buy fair trade and organic
we recycle, safe, recover,
and donate for animals and the poor.
Have a nice day.

I realize that analyzing the behaviour
of my and our commanding kin
is an infinite altercation.

Our race has excluded, disdained, and blamed
for hundreds of years
and we still carry on,
defending;
not empathising

No, because
we are scientifically advanced
we own democracy, equality
and built our wealth all by ourselves.
Have a nice day.

I realize that looking at the hypocrisy
of my and our colour of folk
is a helpless battle in itself

and I have no clue

on how to make

all those

wrongs

right again.

Appeal to Ignoramus

. life and death, poem, poetry, Uncategorized . , , , ,

IMG_0324

Clouds to heaven
sky to earth
can you see end
being at birth?

Cotton ball mountains
across the sphere
rain giant figures
march on the pier

Wind to hurl
air to storm
can you paint life
just being torn?

Sorrow curled waters
head onto sea
stone barrier monsters
crumble the plea

Ashes to bones
dust to skull
you cannot read death
being a lull

The fate of the rabbit 

. animals, freedom, justice, poem poetry . , , ,

img_0503I have small rabbit
Caged in a box
A lone little creature
With one floppy ear

It maims but the carrots, and salads, and roots
And still it’s imprisoned on my human moods

I could though release it
Make it run free,
The fox would then eat it
And tear it apart

So I weigh the bad, the doom, and the curse
Against its survival, albeit it’s perverse

How can I establish
When good does more harm
If I am but thinking
in my poor realm

I would have to grow beyond my own zone
A frightening journey into the unknown

Generation Y – A fine response

. justice, poems, poetry, rebel, revolution . , , , ,

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Somewhere, this morning, I read
that Generation Y is burdened with fear.
They have grown on digital satisfaction,
a cyberspace world quite at their command.
They hardly ever had to resist,
did rarely know of serious plight.
All they have learned, is based on consumption,
twitter me this, and poke me on that.

And now there is this:
a new somber age of living has dawned.
It cracks into their synthetic existence,
and muddles their lives of instagram smiles.

But fear is not the fine response.

Somewhere, this morning, I read
that Generation Y finds itself
bombarded by a daily dose
of unsettling news into their accounts.
It muffles, alarms, and startles them greatly,
they cannot clash, unless it is game.
They never have learned on how they could cope
when real world trumps technology.

And now there is this:
new laws on exclusion, partition, and greed
and new decrees on how to subdue,
which maim their hope of glitterling lives.

But fear is not the fine response.

It can be resistance, rage, or resentment
that goes beyond a smartphone or facebook
it is to shout and break fraudulant dogmas,
Generation X may teach them on how.

Winter’s burden

. poem poetry, Uncategorized . ,

img_0635Snow weighing heavy on the world

hiding the dirt, the ugly, and the grey
calming down the hustle of a life less lived
covering the wounds of a soil battered
by solid autumn’s rains

I was growing tired of the torn and hurt

of the winds howling in my head

icy flakes have fallen onto my mind

causing it to quiet and ponder

where has the sun traveled to?

what is humanity hiding from?

Are we not meant to journey

through seasons of all diversity?

It seems as if snow has come to remind me
that one day we all be forgotten
buried somewhere deep within

and naught will be left but spring’s new offering.

Where is Zambia?

. Africa, Christmas, friends, poem poetry, Uncategorized . , , , ,

DSC_0034

Christmas is looming around the next corner;
cards and parcels sent and received.

At the post office (I wipe off my shoes)
I send off a present to friends in the heat –

they’re home in Zambia, all to the South.
The girl at the counter inspects the address.

She keys in with verve, then halts in her moves:
“Zambia, where is it?”; she’s muddled in guess.

“African South”, I tell her surprised
(Generation smartphone, no one @ home?)

“South Africa, oh!” she exclaims in relief.
I frown and correct her, slightly impatient:

“Southern”, I stress and cannot believe.
She appears to be trapped, asked a trick question.

I feel her brain ticking, about to implode.
I give her the look (howcanyounotknow?).

Her fingers are frozen, stand-by in mode.
I wait for a minute or two or another.

Then, all of a sudden it strikes my awareness:
She won’t find “Zambia” in this one computer

In the language of Goethe, it spells with an ‘S’.
“Try then with ‘S’”(Generation X advices today).

She types again – her face now lights up.
My parcel is stamped and sent on its way.

I love my muslimsisterbrothers

. differences, discrimination, Enough, poetry . , , , , , , ,
© A. Tallil

mural © A. Tallil

I do not care what is your creed
I do not care what you believe
I’ve always thought that we can be
respect in spite of disagree

I love my muslimsisterbrothers
I loverespectdefend them & others
I can no longer be obliged
to be deceived and ill-advised

I know we’ve made mistakes so many
I know that hate’s a gut response
I’ve always thought that we can find
a way in spite of history’s twined

I know it may have been naïve
I know that no one really listens
I’ve always thought that we can fight
off hate in spite of breach of right

I love my muslimsisterbrothers
I loverespectdefend them & others
I can no longer be obliged
to be deceived and ill-advised

I see that no one asks those questions
I see that no one cares to look
I’ve always hoped that we can lay
our sword in spite of power’s play

I blame our leaders, bankers, bigots,
I blame the greedy, rich and full
I may be small to start a racket
but may in spite we all attack it?

I love my muslimsisterbrothers
I love my christiansisterbrothers
I love my hindusisterbrothers
I love my jewishsisterbrothers
I love my buddhistsisterbrothers
I love my atheistsisterbrothers

I loverespectdefend them & others

Redefining positions

. poetry . , , ,

IMG_1169

how could i not be myself?
how could i not listen to what earth was telling me?

nature pulled away and i disappeared in appearances
i lost my laugh between the third and fifth floor of success
age raced, stars kept falling;
their stories extinguished
never to
be retold.

can’t prevent nature from fading
can’t prevent the laugh from wasting
can’t prevent the stars from smothering
can’t prevent the earth from swallowing
those
stories.

it is just that…
luck is not to be found in people or prosperity
it is something to be saved little by little
in my attitude
towards
the world.

Uncertainty of a life ahead

. poem, poetry . , , , , , ,

(because every now and then I ask myself: is it still there,
the willingness to choose the less obvious path?)

IMG_0861

When fog has slid off the up-rolling hills,
Will I take the footprints captured in snow
or choose to climb the rough path of thrills?

When angst has left the up-growing child,
Will I tend the bench and watch people flow
or climb the boat of destiny’s wild?

See, the tree standing age-old
has felt the world of ages unfold
The woodpecker’s knock pounding the trunk
I listen in vain for secrets to thunk.

When cold has fled to un-distant shore,
Will I swim the creek my custom in tow
or ride the ocean to search and explore?

When fear has left the un-certain youth,
will I till a land quite painless to sow
or plod through the mud to find out the truth?

See, the cliff mounting the guard
has watched the sea for years without part.
The sea gull’s complaint screeching the rock
I listen in vain for stories to squawk.

But! Hear, the water lying so quiet
underneath the snow waiting to riot.
The primrose’s push breaking the earth
will bring me the tales of thousands of births.

Redemption, if you will

. children, honesty, hypocrisy, lies, truth . , , , , , ,

IMG_0322

in the shade of splendid words
we hide our fears
& shed our guilt
defend a house of cards
we will

in the nook of sparkling phrase
we burn our lies
& blow our myth
obscure dishonest ways
we wish

in the hint of polished speech
we store our pain
& stash our doubt
prevent an open breach
we want

but in the eye of sparkling tinge
you find my hue
& touch my sooth
redeem eternal clinch
you shall

A somber winter’s tale

. learning, Life, sadness . , , ,

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Morrow calls the late sun to rise
to carry away the raw nights of ice

I failed the riches in bleakest of life
and buried the poorness in crustiest glaze

no pledge in faith
no want in love

and all the speeches remain the same

No musings
No pennies
No linings
No hope

some would have been
some would have lost
it’s sorrow to day
and hardship to night

(In the forge of the earth,
a  primrose may know)

Finding Prudence

. philosophy, Psychology . , , ,

IMG_0719

Where have you been
the son of the wisdom
The home was abandoned in mighty old storms

Where have you been
the daughter of patience
The garden ran riot in ample old rains

The house now stands numb
with walls once adorned of infinite fables

The rooms now hold ice
with desks once so crowded of luminous thoughts

Where have you been
the heiress of insight
the time has grown crucial to settle back in.

The biting truth

. differences, life science, philosophy . , , , ,

IMG_0622 - Version 2

What is up – is it down?
What is left – is it right?
What is red – is it blue?
What is dusk – is it dawn?
What is I – is it we?

The frozen peak knows none of flats
The howling wolf knows none of barks

Glue your facts – which what is warming
Crumble your truth – which what is biting

The end of the penny dreadful

. European finance crisis, inflation, Life, Money . , , ,

(because sometimes I have more bills than income)

Sculptures © A. Tallil

Sculptures © A. Tallil

Go to the king and pay your tithe
it’s wise it’s wise it’s wise it’s wise

no way around the lordship’s tills
it mills it mills it mills it mills

your groat is void and nothing but grime
without you gasping, it wanders in time
and if you do not fib or bribe
it joins the rich, but never your tribe

—
Go to the bank and pay your debts
it frets it frets it frets it frets

no way around those taxes’ bills
it kills it kills it kills it kills

your pennies are stocked in void and blank
without you puffing, they lose their rank
and if you do not fib or bribe
they go the rich, but never your tribe

Clover of Four

. life and death, parents . , , , ,

(for my mother who would have turned 85 today)

IMG_0583

Betwixt the primal automn air
I stroll along on worn out fields; I look for her in glowing leaves
that tumble to content despair

I never knew how she could spy
a fourleaved clover in the grass; but when she left to join the clouds
her mistery fell on bristly rye

I try to pierce the muddled mist
and call upon creation to keep the promise that she’d made
to find me in a secret tryst

It seems a search to no avail
I hunt, inspect and comb the green; perhaps there is no greater scheme
she left to leave nor sign or trail

But there’s a pause, a halt in time
a gust of everafter scent; and there before my watery eyes
clovers of four and five sublime.

Notes between the colours

. Art, differences, nature, poem, poems, poetry, skin colour . , , ,

Part 1:

We call for Purple
to turn into night
and find that Green is
common and trite
When Red performs
in fire and motion
then Orange becomes
a reddish devotion
If Blue is reserved
for sky and the water
then yellow is sun
on the hair of your daughter

IMG_0566

Part 2

Beware though then…

…when Yellow passes you may not see
the thousand of specks that melt into glee

…when Blue is in motion you may not grasp
the billion of moons that aged in its path

…when Oranges it shivers you may not feel
the rivers and creeks that licked on the keel

…when Red is pounding you may not hear
those words and hearts that batter a weir

…when Green dissolves you may not gather
the ancient ground splitting the dagger

And least of all…

… do we believe that tedious Purple
is more than a colour filling a circle.

A spark in the Rainbow

. death, depression, Life, life and death, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry . , ,

IMG_0579

Had longed to hear the colour’s song
had searched for substance in the light
had called the stars for comfort’s sight

but none so far had given way
so my heart’s howls would all allay.

Was tensed with worries of the bolt
was lost for darkness in my steps
was pained for gloom in all respects

but none so far had reached its aim
that this and all was not in vain.

Had borne the thoughts like cracks of dusk
had carried stones in head and soul
had dragged these bones as piles of coal

but none so far had come to ease
the fear of that futility’s breeze.

But when I turned my glance outside
and there, it was – undoubtedly bright

A rainbow touchdown in my yard.

(…no answers yet, if just a spark)

The eternal transcience

. melancholy, poem, poems, poetry, seasons . , , ,

IMG_0460

 

 

 

Little petal’s white on the grass
a stain in time.
They have been thrown – simply to pass

Noble peacock’s call in the grove
a plea in haste.
They have been reared – only to rove

Tender lamb’s black on the green
a flash in life.
They have been bred – plainly to wean

Gentle mother’s tears on the face
a cry in gloom.
They have been sent – purely to brace

Greater grief will lapse in season
but leave a trace.
They have been cast  – surely with reason

The ballet of a lonely poet

. depression, literature, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry . , , ,
Sculpture A. Tallil

Sculpture A. Tallil

Words that tumbled through head & meadows
were randomly danced in sound & in echoes
there wasn’t a score or a note to be followed
then why does it feel but clumsy & hollowed?

One of the days, I swore, it would change
then days became but years in a range
my shoulders slumped with burden of times
my age was counted in strokes & in dimes

Could I have betrayed the truth and the real?
Could I have reshaped the spin of the wheel?
I wonder most & on every corner
why others succeed when I am a mourner.

I fret, bewail, do stretch & bemoan
senseless it seems; the fate’s to be worn.

Absurdity of an ordinary existence

. depression, life and death, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry . ,

IMG_0436

I

The rains of eyes have left a stream;
the thoughts of morn upset the mist

II

I’ve lost my footsteps in the mud;
have searched the skies and found but void;
believes and truths have overturned

III

The bark of dog proclaims new light;
a virgin breeze affects the ridge;
a noble drop commends the seed;
small hopes pervade the rays of dawn

IV

I choke until I breathe again

 

The reticent call of tiny things

. death, depression, Life, life and death, love, old age, poem, poems, poetry . , ,

IMG_0326

Drops of chant
leaves of mist
hands of light
have kissed our lives

and yet we do not realize

birds of airs
rivers of kind
words of light
have served our path

and yet we do not visualize

wanting and longing
running; unceasing
always and ever lagging behind
until destruction lays its veil
upon what once seemed comfortably great

angels of earth
mountains of peace
eyes of aid
have kept our fate

and yet we do not sympathize

songs of dew
clouds of paint
whispers of dust
have lead our step

and yet we do not emphasize

wishing and hoping
bustling; unyielding
always and ever casting about
until cessation lowers its bars
upon what once seemed crucially key

Not morrow and past
not sorrow; unending
always and ever making us bend
until we lose our sacred core
should ever define the here and us

it is up to us to legitimize

Nostalgia on an automn’s day

. automn, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry, seasons . , , ,

IMG_0299Septemberwings
they bring the chill
to pull off summertired leaves
to suck the breath off warmer lakes

I learned the seasons by my heart
they know on how to play their part
as stars wipe out the evening glow
then chased by sun with light in tow

Automngasp
it brings the mists
to stroke off all the wilted vines
to push the birds towards the South

I gathered years in broken jars
locked them far behind soul’s bars
as age removes the trace of youth
followed by the aches of truth

Eveningsilence
it brings the dusk
to cover up the dog day’s heat
to tell the fields they now must shiver

I sailed through time on borrowed boats
forgot to look for beacon’s coasts
as people loot and leave my sorrows
replacing old for new tomorrows

The drums of war and sorrow

. Africa, Arab World, democratic movement, poem, poems, poetry, war . , , ,

angola17The head is filled with pain and flashes
a splinter of a memory
sable dust on open wounds
becomes a human’s tragedy

The house is worn with holes and bruises
a shadow of hilarity
scorched earth on gaping fields
becomes a country’s malady

Who has said we want this war?
Who decides on less and more?
Who can take our lives away?
And who’s the winner anyway?

The sky is shred in tears and claret
a fragment of eternity
billowed cloud on beaten ground
becomes a soldier’s blasphemy

The air is cringed with dread and terror
a notion of its purity
anxious thought in battered minds
becomes a people’s atrophy

Who has said we want this war?
Who decides on less and more?
Who can take our lives away?
And who’s the winner anyway?

Grievance of a dismayed child

. Life, old age, poem, poems, poetry, sickness . , , , ,

Ganges

Mother dear
I know it’s age
that runs away on riverbeds

your patterned swimsuit
on my mind
I was so small and you so tall

 now I have grown into the sky
left you there on shifting sand
pebbles roll beneath your feet
and waters lick around your calves

Why does the tide not stay away?
Why do you have to drift along?
I cannot swim to rescue you
out of a lifetime’s ocean

Each creek does find the sea it needs
I learned this from the tales you’ve told
and yet how could I not foresee
that drops and people flow the same?

I’m just allowed to let you float
and send some lonely tears with you
One day my creek will follow yours
and find the ocean that you know

Hymn of the elusive magic

. Life, love, poem, poems, poetry . , , ,

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It is the hope for a window agleam in an open house
when tundra nights stretch beyond the morrows

It is the hope for a roof ahead in a faithful land
when libellous streets curl beyond the frontiers

 

It is the hope for a raft afloat in a placid ocean
when hungry waves crash beyond the shores

It is the hope for a cloud adrift in a lucent sky
when furious storms lash beyond the heavens

 

It is the hope for a seed alive in a friendly soil
when barren sands rush beyond the gardens

It is the hope for a song aloud in a mellow hall
when fatal quiet reaches beyond the gates.

The journal of a blistered country

. Africa, famine, natural disaster, poem, poems, poetry, poverty . , , , ,

angola13

The morning gust
dispersing the dust
the sweeping sound
of brooms on ground
the veil of fire
exhausting the pyre

the mumbling of the early voices
rising
to absorbing sky
the promise of the heat and hunger
crawling
on disheveled shacks

the midday low
of cattle and glow
the rustling note
of dearth’s abode
a horizon of blaze
melting the haze

the desperate cry of men and children
smothered
by relentless sand
the knowledge of enduring plight
roaming
in a sweltering brain

the evening’s weight
on absence and wait
the merciless hint
of coming day’s stint
the night on the rise
gives strife a disguise

the chilling caw of slaughtered beasts
travelling
through forgotten bush
the rumour of a kingdom come
creeping
in a desolate earth

The courage of a rebel’s mind

. justice, Life, poem, poems, poetry, rebel, revolution . , ,

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cloudswimming, sunsinging
wallshifting, treelifting

Who says if all is set and done
when just one voice can crack the dawn?

goldbreaking, tearbaking
muddancing, lightlancing

Who sets the rules of whole and grail
when just one glance can tear the veil?

bloomfreezing, airseezing
moonturning, tideburning

Who carries the law of right and wing
when just one thought can down the king?

songmolding, seafolding
skychanting, lifegranting

If no one can tell of truth and prayer
why be afraid to turn and dare?

Requiem for Fugacity

. Life, life and death, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry . , ,

IMG_0095a rip in the haze
a split in the rays
a seed in the bloom
a room in the womb
a print in the cloud

so not
to
end
in a
grievous
shroud

one drop in the air
one line in a prayer
one seat in a town
one gem in a crown
one truth in a lie

so not
to
end
in a
rueful
sigh

we deal with life’s board
to lift off the sword
that hangs as a threat
and tend to forget
what is our lot

to
matter
at
all
or
probably not

Quest for Queendom

. Life, poem, poems, poetry, Women
This post was written for Sakshis’ Blog, which you can find here. She is (in her own words) “An Electrical Engineer by profession, A poet at heart, A drama queen in real life” and has many brilliant ideas. One such idea  was to write a poem for  each letter of the alphabet. She  invited others to choose a letter and to contribute a guest poem on her blog.  This is my contribution. I choose the letter Q. This post is also an opportunity to introduce one of my other passions in life: To make collages of  all sorts of material, for example cardboard or things I find in thrift stores or flea markets:

Quest for Queendom EvB2013Quench your Qualms
and Quibble not;

Quit to Quaver
and ignore the Quandary.

Start your Query
and Quest for truth …

then life will follow to the Quick

Do not be Quaint
nor be Quadruped;

Question deeply
and ponder your Quotes.

Find that Quality
in Queerest Quarters…

then you will get that Quid pro Quo

Embrace the Quirky
and do not Quip;

search for Quiet
and use your Quickness.

Quiz all Quantity
and Quite each thing…

then Queendom surely is to come…

Idle Curse of a Pretentious Broad

. depression, melancholy, poem, poems, poetry . , , ,

IMG_0105Poison seeping from my bones
dripping into convenient veins
beguiling stomach, heart and brain
till dust and rust are left to call

No hunger nor ache
no sickness nor chain

I have a roof and people to love
a work to pursue, a talent to hug
my mind is not shut
my body not bent

There should be no poison
to savage my soul

Luxury problems,
vanity fair,
when I should be dancing
like Sundays in May

Sculpture © A.Tallil

Lesson for the Disoriented

. Life, poem, poems, poetry . , , ,

DSC01154I am Northwest
the moss of the tree
the damp, the dark, the direful me;
the one that only the brown owl can see…

My malice,
my caution
will keep you away.

I am Southeast
the grape of the vine
the luscious, the luring, the magical kind;
the one for which all creatures do pine…

My kindness,
my ardour
will both reel you in.

And if your compass is out of control
you may well have lost the cardinal pole
There is no need to look for direction
as I am far gone from any detection

All life collapses

. life and death, poem, poems . , , ,

IMG_3462You (Yes, you!) who swallows that petrol
until your mind turns raven-hued
You thought it’ll last forevermore
Mind you! Life always asks for what it’s dued

D’you think the subduer would never crawl?
D’you think that empires were never to fall?

All life collapses
all systems must die

We are but a few; you can kill us away
yet change is born in simple hear-say

You (Yes, you!) who munches that money
until your eyes turn round and gold
You thought it’ll flow forevermore
Mind you! Life firmly does not what it’s told

D’you think the walls would never crumble?
D’you think dictators were never to tumble?

All life collapses
all systems must die

We are but a few; you can kill us away
yet change is born in simple hear-say

You (Yes, you!) who vomits those dogmas
until your lips grow white and rigid
You thought it’ll con forevermore
Mind you! Life clearly is all else but frigid

D’you think the flat earth wouldn’t alter?
D’you think fanatics were never to falter?

All life collapses
all systems must die

We are but a few; you can kill us away
yet change is born in simple hear-say

And the mighty, the holy and upper crust
are all transformed to common place dust

Prayer of the Weary

. poem, poems, spring . , , ,

Picture 033Shut my head
block my eyes
forget, forget that I’m alive.

Greys of rain-twines irk my being
enough, enough, you springtime fleeing!

Bolt the house
secure the yard
recall, recall that I am marred.

Browns of mud-rows vex my substance
begone, begone, you winter’s nuisance!

Break the rigour
blast the frost
reveal, reveal that I am lust.

Reds of sound-strings quiver my core
Come on, come on, you riot times’ lure!

Libretto for My Beloved

. love, poem, poems . , , ,

IMG_1244Epilogue
Look me up when moonlight calls, roll me in your gentle dreams
soak me with your animus
and guide me through your reverie.

Take me on this twilight fancy, hold me in your lunar gaze
wrap me with your starlit laugh
and chase away those mares of night.

Prologue
The sun purloins nocturnal cloaks, strips us bare of cosmic bonds
tend me through the days of ire
and lead me back to evening’s tomb.

Of Meadows and Alleys

. life and death, love, poem, poems . , ,

IMG_1428

Let ’em out, the somber horses
let ’em pound the stones and sludge
let ’em run on nightfall’s ardor
’til they trampled all those forces

Let ’em out, the piercing orders
let ’em smash the flame and glee
let ’em screech on suntime’s field
’til they blasted all those borders

You toy around with all my essence
looking out just by yourself
you leave behind a trail of dust
where once upon a meadow lived

Let ’em out those eager dogs
let ’em maul the brawn and hope
let ’em race on daydusk’s garden
’til they gorged on all those togs

Let ’em out those sordid slanders
let ’em bang the sense and wit
let ’em crush the forenoon’s laughter
’til they stirred up all of those angers

You dance atop my all that is
running forth all on your own
you leave behind a path of shivers
where once upon an alley curled