March 2024 V - 9 N - 12 Issue No. 108

 

A

WORLDWIDE WRITERS’ WEB

PRESENTATION!

 

PUBLISHED BY

 

OPA

 

OUR

POETRY ARCHIVE

ONLINE MONTHLY POETRY JOURNAL

https://ourpoetryarchive.blogspot.com

email us to:

ourpoetryarchive@gmail.com

**************************************

 

RICHARD DOIRON - INTERVIEW

 

NILAVRONILL TALKING WITH

POET OF THE MONTH

RICHARD DOIRON

MARCH 2024

NILAVRONILL: Welcome to Our Poetry Archive, dear poet. And congratulations as the poet of this month. I would like to know your personal views on literature or poetry in general.

 

RICHARD DOIRON: First, thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my views. As to literature, I quit school at a young age, though I had had very good grades through the early years. One day, having quit school, I went into the Public Library and chanced on a book by the late American poet, Sara Teasdale. I was mesmerized by the beautiful writing, with poetry being concise, expressive to a fault. I wanted to write like that. Surprisingly, I found that writing was easy for me. I was very creative. It would merely be a matter of understanding things like meter. And then there were moments when the poems were spontaneous. I still fail to understand how some of that is possible; still, literature was to play a significant role in my life; while never an avid reader, imagery did take me to far and distant shores, if you will. I was on my way.

 

NILAVRONILL: What are the factors that have influenced you immensely in the growing phase of your literary life. When, most probably you were not certain of your future as a poet or writer. Do you think society as a whole is the key factor in shaping up you as a poet, or your poetry altogether?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Frankly, there is mystery to writing, much as there would be to any other art form;  I have known musicians who were self-taught who were masterful etc. My situation was no different. For instance, I was not quite seventeen, when something prompted me to write a thousand-word letter to the Editor of our local paper, and not one word was removed or changed. A former teacher sent word that I could not possibly have written that letter. There would then be a need to categorize people. Gibran (my all-time favourite writer) noted two different types of poets: the technical and the inspired. While I was fortunate to develop technical skills that would not have ever accounted for thousands of spontaneous poems. Here is another observation, too: people will sometimes ask when I might have become a poet; the only answer to that is that I was born a poet, much as artists in other art forms were born to their respective callings. We all know people who can pluck a guitar and hit the odd note. I am basically tone-deaf, yet I once sat in the front row of a concert by two men considered the greatest classical guitarists at the time, Segovia and Montoya, and I knew magic when I witnessed it. Frankly, I was never unsure of myself as a writer. I simply wrote, much as I occasionally built a structure that became my home. I simply went ahead and did it, and that has never stopped. It is very possible that society helps to shape us in some ways;  after all, the world is the school, as it were, and the starting point to writing is somewhere; encouragement by a specific teacher at age ten or so stayed with me. Mind you, while society may shape us to some extent, that would not always explain a certain mystery to which I must allude now and then. I would, however, suggest that my connection to nature has played a big role in the way I look at the world.

 

NILAVRONILL: Is there anyone in your life, influenced you personally to develop your literary skills? Or inspire you to become a poet?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Again, one does not become a poet; one simply is or is not; I might aspire to piano playing but being tone-deaf would never allow for that to happen. There have been great men of letters who have picked up on something relative to me and offered great encouragement, from a journalism instructor over fifty years ago, to at least three prominent Canadian poets who both encouraged me and gave me mediums of expression, one being a publisher of a yearly poetry magazine; that man would send me letters reminding me to not forget to submit, which was most pleasing to me. I will always be grateful for such men in my poetic journey. For my part, I have encouraged numerous aspiring writers as well. But encouragement does not necessarily make writers, either. One can pick up on technical aspects of anything but the creative components, that is either inherent in a person or is not. Some may suddenly write or paint or sing or dance, but if and when that should happen, it was always there, merely dormant for a spell.

 

NILAVRONILL: Do you consider your literary life as an extension of your self-existence? If so, how it is related with the time around you?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: It has long been my belief that, as some are born to music of to other art forms, I was born to write. It is a must, without exception. I am my writing and my writing is who and what I am, and locale has never mattered; I could have been in a quiet setting or a noisy establishment, when the poem wants to find its place on a page, it finds it; as such, then, I see myself as a channel. It is never about boasting. Michaelangelo was praised for sculpting David and said no that was the case: David was inside the stone, and he had merely chipped the stone away from David. How wonderful!

 

NILAVRONILL: According to you, what are the conditions to develop the creative soul of a poet in general?  We would like to know from your personal experiences.

 

RICHARD DOIRON: The poet will be a poet no matter what, but I should think freedom plays a big part in a poet's life,  though freedom, also, is something implying depth, such as freedom of mind and of spirit. Often, I have had people insist that one must read endlessly or practise the craft without halt, but I have read few books and have written extensively on all sorts of things, though I think of my writing as spiritual in nature; my themes have consistently been peace, harmony, love, justice, nature, philosophy. What came first the chicken or the egg? Does the poet develop a creative soul, or is the soul shaping the poet? I have been reluctant to call myself a poet at times, simply because I have the words of Socrates, so long ago, saying that poets often wrote over their own heads. Some days I struggle to formulate a sentence, but then inspiration hits and I surely write in a language I do not normally think in.

 

NILAVRONILL: Do you think in this age of information and technology the dimensions of literature have been largely extended beyond our preconceived ideas about literature in general?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: I would tell the writers to write, not to fall victims to fads or passing fancies. Yes, we do need to keep up with the times, but the interpretation of that has to be done on an individual basis.  In the end, the poet walks both a tightrope and a fine line. He or she is left to decide, pursuant to the depths of individual callings and attributes.

 

NILAVRONILL: As a poet, do socio-economy and politics in general influence your literary visions? If so how, and if not, why?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Poets are said to be the most quoted of all people, yet they are often the poorest in the world of art. Not sure exactly why. If one were trapped in a mindset where economics were the driving force, then I could not ever imagine being that person, not to say that poets ought not be recompensed for their work, but that writers always find reasons to write. If anything, though, the world often rejects its thinkers, in certain ways, as the true artist will insist on being truthful. Poets, to me, are like journalists, who have practised balanced journalism. Yes, I would certainly like to see our poets have better standards of living but I would not endorse the works of anyone favouring specific groups exclusively above others. As for politics, at varying levels, sadly we far too often see that at play, and that sometimes includes politics in the world of art itself.

 

NILAVRONILL: Do you consider, your national identity as an important factor to influence your literary creativity? Is your national identity an incentive for you to find your own literary voice?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: I am Canadian, but my ancestry is European. I know the price our Native people have paid thanks to invaders coming here and destroying entire Nations, cultures, being unjust, despite the fact that without the generous assistance of Native people, many of my ancestors would not have survived their first winter here. My Native friends, some of whom have been my finest teachers (on occasion without speaking a single word), often sign off with “all my relations,” acknowledging how we are all interconnected. That we have failed to learn this has been a disaster for us all. As I previously said I consider myself a spiritual writer, but that would be consistent with Native Spirituality more than any other influential factors.

 

NILAVRONILL: In between tradition and modernism, which one influence you most and why?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Modernism is a term that could have been applied to any and all successive age, where tradition would be slower to evolve. In my lifetime I have certainly seen a loss of traditional values, as the pace of “modern” developments outpaced our abilities to properly process the changes that have occurred, emphasis placed on economics based on greed and myopic vision, true visionaries cast aside. When I look at the shape of the world right now, it is tear-inducing. Humans have now far too often become secondary to machinery. I rarely go out but I have seen groups, such as families, sit in restaurants, each one chatting on a smartphone, not with the people supposedly there for bonding. I want no part of that mindset; when someone drops in on me, I turn the machinery off. In that sense, I revert to tradition. No doubt, we need to adapt to certain changes, but that should not imply at the loss of our humanity.

 

NILAVRONILL: Do you think honest literary criticism has much to do with the development of a poet and the true understanding of his or her poetry?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Well, this is interesting. On whose shoulders does it fall to offer literary criticism to someone else? Some things are subjective, no doubt. Occasionally, someone will comment on a poem I have posted and say something like “this is really good and matches my way of thinking.” Okay, so is the work actually good or is it about being in agreement with someone else's world views?  My writing is not to accommodate any particular mindset. Poems can be simple or very complex, but that falls on the poets themselves to resolve. Some people can write all the poems they want, but are they merely writing poems, as some might pluck guitars?

 

NILAVRONILL: I would like to know, whether your contemporaries inspire your writings in any way.

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Over the years I have encountered poets whose works are so special that I'm almost in awe. At the loss of such people, I have been known to weep. I am always impressed by insightful and forthright writers. It can take courage to tackle controversy. I greatly admire acts of visible courage. Do such persons inspire my writing, it is possible; if something causes me to reflect, that is usually a good thing.

 

NILAVRONILL: Do you believe, literature can eventually help people to uplift human conscience?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: We definitely need our writers and our thinkers. If we have ever moved ahead, historically, we would have to assign credit to such persons as have led the way when leadership was needed. When someone reads Desiderata, for instance, that is something that necessarily prompts the reader to look at the world through a difference lens. The written word holds a lot of merit in our world. Online I see countless posts of people promoting quotes made by historical figures. This shows the social influence of writers and thinkers in our collective lives.

 

NILAVRONILL: Humanity has suffered immensely in the past, and is still suffering around the world. We all know it well. As a poet or even as a literary person, how do you foresee the future of mankind?

 

RICHARD DOIRON: This is a tough one. Because I have lived many years and observed many a development in our world, at present it is difficult to hold a positive viewpoint on humanity. And here I again refer to the Native outlook I have grown so fond of admiring: we are all interconnected, but the disconnect is taking hundreds of lifeforms away from us daily, never to be seen again. We are part of the whole; we hear of a Sixth Mass Extinction process underway; we are part of that eco-system; we are told that 50-70% of life forms in the ocean have been lost, along with equal numbers of land mammals, in the last half century, so where does that put us if not in a catastrophic scenario?

 

NILAVRONILL: We are almost at the end of the interview. I remain obliged to you for your participation. Now, personally I would like to know your honest opinion about Our Poetry Archive. Since April 2015 we are publishing and archiving contemporary world poetry each and every month. Thank you for sharing your views and spending much time with us.

 

RICHARD DOIRON: Well sir, I have followed your OPA endeavours all along, and the work you do is remarkable. In my life, I have occasionally organized events of note, and I know how much effort it took to achieve end results, and that you have been so consistent in your promotion of poets, your compiling of so much work, this is nothing short of momentous and monumental stuff. I have benefited from your publications and generosity on numerous occasions myself and am most grateful at your generosity and the vision you embody as well. I thank you most sincerely for all that you do for my fellow scribes. I am now into my sixtieth year of being published, and I could not think of a better forum for that to have become a reality. Thank you so much indeed and continued health and success into the New Year and in your literary endeavours and pursuits.

 

RICHARD DOIRON: work in print 59 years; estimated 1000 poems published in some 200 anthologies, periodicals, personal books; author of novels, biographical works, essays, and lyricist. Graduate in journalism and Certified Lifeskills Coach; work read at the United Nations University for Peace, Costa Rica; published alongside a dozen Nobel Prize Winners by invitation, including the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu. Participant in local, national, and international literary festivals; 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award winner with World Poetry; 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award with Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry; 2017 nominated for "There is a Winner in You" Lifetime Achievement Award with ARTeryUSA, nominated by James Pasqual Bettio, former senator in the California Senior Legislature. 2019 named World Poet Laureate by the group Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry. Twice nominated for Governor-General's Award and the Griffin Poetry Prize. Nominated to the Order of New Brunswick, 2019. Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, 2019.

RICHARD DOIRON

 

The Day Of Love And Peace

 

We wanted peace; the same we sought -

revenge but spelling yet a tomb! -;

we planted seeds thus peace we got

and oh! to see that "garden" bloom!

 

Our warring ways were set aside;

the time had come for peace to reign,

the fight, at best, but foolish pride,

which, truth be told, gave not a gain.

 

The peaceful path the one we chose,

we took to heart what saints had said:

found far and wide the scent of rose

the day that love and peace were wed.

 

There Is Hope

 

There is hope to build upon

When there's love to reach us all

Morning comes and brings the dawn

Life itself that makes the call

 

All we need for peace to reign

All we need to reach that goal

Is to think and entertain

How each neighbour has a soul

 

Sacred truths are not on hold

Heaven high that's made it clear

Love is key we've all been told

And the reason that we're here

 

This Dream Of Mine

 

I long have had a dream of peace

That comes both day and night

A dream that simply will not cease

With no one seen to fight

 

I long have had a dream of hope

It's what I visualize

I see it through a telescope

That reaches paradise

 

I long have had a dream of love

That's clear as anything

A world devoid of push and shove

A world that's heard to sing

 

I long have had this dream of mine

That now I share with you

Come take my hand we'll form a line

And make this dream come true

 

When It's Peace At Last

 

When it's peace at last we will view the past

with the sorrows that were sown

and we'll sing as one for a job well done

with a strength to shatter stone.

 

Put an end to war we will fight no more

and the future will be free,

and the land will ring with that song we sing

with its lease on liberty.

 

From the grips of hell seen our numbers swell

as we take our rightful place,

every member sold on the tale that's told

of a single human race.

 

What Cause For Fear

 

We dare to dream the dreamers that we are,

who'd dwell no less than on the distant star

perchance we could, perchance a magic made

the Universe that blessed the escapade.

 

What limits are the mind has put in place -

no rainbows there for anyone to chase -

and what a shame, reviewed the past and all,

this very spot one time the port of call...

 

Gone back in time to treks of yesteryear,

what else but dreams projected someone here!

Precision now the tools we have in hand,

what cause for fear the far and distant land?

 

RICHARD DOIRON

 

RICHARD DOIRON: work in print 59 years; estimated 1000 poems published in some 200 anthologies, periodicals, personal books; author of novels, biographical works, essays, and lyricist. Graduate in journalism and Certified Lifeskills Coach; work read at the United Nations University for Peace, Costa Rica; published alongside a dozen Nobel Prize Winners by invitation, including the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu. Participant in local, national, and international literary festivals; 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award winner with World Poetry; 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award with Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry; 2017 nominated for "There is a Winner in You" Lifetime Achievement Award with ARTeryUSA, nominated by James Pasqual Bettio, former senator in the California Senior Legislature. 2019 named World Poet Laureate by the group Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry. Twice nominated for Governor-General's Award and the Griffin Poetry Prize. Nominated to the Order of New Brunswick, 2019. Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, 2019.

 

VALSA GEORGE

 

Martyred For Freedom

 

What crime did Masha do to brutally beat her to death?

Rapists, rogues, and robbers roam scot-free.

But Masha was callously put to death!

This woman wished everyone to walk in dignity.

She saw her sisters bound with crude fetters.

Her spirit rebelled against all man-made manacles,

That bound not their hands and legs, but mind and body,

While they longed to dance with abandon.

 

This pretty girl of Iran had brains to think.

She knew the many restrictions imposed,

Would strangle and cripple the fair sex.

Her rebellious mind revolted,

When women had to cover their heads with hijab,

And wrap themselves in several folds of linen.

She saw in their faces, the grimaces of tormented fear.

 

Allegedly she was arrested for violating Iran’s ‘modesty code.’

The fanatics thought that with her death,

The clamour for freedom would die down.

But it got blazed fierce and now thousands join,

Pledging their solidarity to Masha, drawing inspiration from her.

Again, their shrieks for freedom cannot be stifled or silenced.

In cloistered darkness, they wait, hoping for a bright sunrise.

They hope to see the rise of a girl child,

From the abyss of an extinguished millennial flame!

 

A Bird That Cannot Fly

 

Confined within the rusty iron bars,

Grounded eternally to hop and trip,

Wishing to fly into Heaven’s starry bower,

A bird beats her wings in vain,

Voicing her anguish in tremulous trills.

 

There is hunger at every tip of her feather,

To fly and flutter through the pathless air,

Piping melodious tunes to drown the earth,

Seeing lands never eyed by anyone before

 

Nursing her dreams, she beats her wings again,

To reach a place where the soul sings.

Alas! The clamour of her beating resounds,

And she falls asleep exhausted!

 

In her sleep, her desires limp back,

She dreams of shooting into higher altitudes.

Becoming a speck among fleecy clouds.

But she knows the sky that stretches limitless,

Is a premise far beyond her reach.

 

As she sees birds in flock flying away

To seamless ends sculpting sweet images,

In her vision, she beats her wings again,

To feel tired and feeling tired to fall asleep,

And in sleep to dream again of soaring free!

 

When Shall We Soar To Freedom

 

Thud of military boots over cobbled streets,

Thundering symphony of enemy tanks,

Deadening sound of gun shots,

Hearts frozen numb through fears,

Packs of wolves springing on innocents,

Bodies mangled by terrorist shells,

Snuffing out the dreams of children

Pushing elders to live in eternal horror.

Life, threatened by night curfews,

Freedom of expression, banned,

Life, steeped in darkness and bound by manacles!

 

Here, we are like insects trapped and stuck in a spider web,

By a hungry arachnid, helplessly awaiting our fate.

Shackles cripple us, we are eternally trapped.

Before darkness closes in, let us strive hard for peace.

We need a new world, where we can live free,

And unchain the gates setting free our captive spirits.

 

How we dream of a time with no hatred or war

But peace, love, and freedom for all.

Where men of all caste and creed live in harmony

Breathing free air and having the freedom to walk and talk.

To be like birds, to spread our wings and ride upon the wind,

Ride to seamless heights of joy and Freedom! 

VALSA GEORGE

VALSA GEORGE is a retired professor from Kerala. After her successful career as a teacher, she took to poetry. She writes on a wide spectrum of topics spanning Nature, Love, Human relations et al. She has authored over 1500 poems in varied poetic forms which she regularly posts in international poetry websites, reputed journals, and literary publications. She has four anthologies in her name - Beats, Drop of a Feather, Rainbow Hues, and Entwining Shadows - the latter two available on Amazon.com. One of her poems ‘A space Odyssey’ has been included in the CBSE syllabus (Rain Tree Course Book by Orient Black Swan) for the 8th grade students in India from the year 2018. Another poem ‘My Fractured Identity’ is prescribed for the undergraduate students (Voyagers) in Philippines

 

TIL KUMARI SHARMA

 

Flight of Freedom

 

 The high flight in life

 With ethical feathers and fresh air

 Environment of heaven

 Imagination of creativity

 Having no restriction

 The life of pleasure and high justice

 My joy of court with voice of equality.

 

 Equal living with freedom

 No boundary in border

 Equal human exists.

 The freedom of smile and laughter

 Dreams daily of equal leading.

 

 Pleasure Of Liberty

 

 High joy in free notions

 Consciousness leads world.

 No gender biases

 No inferiority plays in my soul.

 Confidence and joy

 From the heart of creativity.

 Humanity and equality

 I do not discriminate about gender and religion.

 All have same notion of humanity

 Love and kindness lead earth.

 There is joy of loyalty.

 Freedom of justice

 I can establish there

As poet of human sound for justice.

 

Home Of Emancipation:

 

 My love to have no restriction

 My arm to lead with ethical human.

 Discipline is in freedom.

 That is free feather.

 Free living is justice.

 Restriction is cage.

 

 My art is my home.

 I can express anything in sound.

 Silence is blessed.

 But I like to bring justice for all.

 Poor and rich are equally born.

 That is justice of court.

 My freedom is in truth not in falseness.

 

TIL KUMARI SHARMA

 

TIL KUMARI SHARMA: Internationally renowned Poetess Til Kumari Sharma was born in Paiyun 7- Hile, Parbat, Nepal. She is pursuing a PhD in English from Singhania University in India. By profession, she is an English teacher. She has published more than thousands of poems, some essays, stories, articles and other literary writings in the national and international newspapers, magazines, groups and anthologies over the world. She achieved awards, certificates, accolades, honors and diploma from different organizations in recognition of her brilliant literary works. She is Guinness World Holder poetess.

 

TAGHRID BOU MERHI

 

TAGHRID BOU MERHI

 

Freedom For All!

 

In realms where liberty's song does soar,

A chorus for the oppressed, going strong

Through fields of hope, where enthrall dreams

Resides the anthem, freedom for all.

 

Boundless skies whisper tales untold,

Where every spirit, bold and brave

Dances in the light of equal grace,

A sacred space, a symphony of rights.

 

No barriers stand, no chains to bind

Hand in hand, a united band

For in the heart of justice's call and right

Echoes the promise, freedom for all.

 

No color, no divide, no creed, no racism

In the tapestry of humanity, we confide

A tapestry woven strong and prominent

Threads of compassion, freedom for all.

 

Let prejudice fall, let kindness reign

As we embrace the anthem, freedom for all

In the symphony of life's grand

May echoes resound, freedom for all.

 

Gift Earned!

 

Freedom, a beacon in the human heart

A vital part, a tapestry woven

It's the right to speak, to dream, to be

A melody of choice, harmonious and free.

 

In autonomy's embrace, true power lies

An open sky where flies every spirit

No limits thrall, no shackles bind

Freedom's dance is universal for all.

 

To grasp its meaning, a quest profound

A journey where equality is crowned

It blooms in hearts that choose to withstand

For the common land, justice and love.

 

It's not a gift bestowed, but earned

Because it is a human right

By understanding, call, and the respect

Every soul can rise, obtain freedom for all.

 

Freedom, Where They Belong!

 

In God's design, a gift bestowed,

Freedom's seed sowed in every soul

Yet shadows cast by greed's cruel art

Tear lives apart, enslave the free.

 

Unliberated hearts yearn to soar

Chained by greed, they ache for more

Evil's whispers, a darkened song

Drowning rights, which must be given.

 

But freedom's flame can't be denied

It's not a demand, but a human right

A birthright etched in every being

Unveiled through seeing, since forever.

 

No tyrant's grip, no cruel decree

Can quell the call for liberty

In every heart, the right takes flight

A guiding light, a sacred beacon.

 

TAGHRID BOU MERHI

 

TAGHRID BOU MERHI: She is a Lebanese multilingual poet, writer, journalist and translator living in Brazil. She has authored 17 books and translated 22 books to date. She is an active member of various literary and creative platforms and editor of 8 Magazine Arabic. She is advisor to the International Union of Arab Intellectuals, in the Media Authority for Translation Affairs and advisor to the countries Al-Sham literary platform for literary translation. She is an advisory member among ten international poetry consultants chosen by Chinese media giant CCTV. She IS international ambassador for the organization of creativity for peace London. Her writings are part of several national and international magazines, newspapers, journals and anthologies. Her poems have been translated into 47 languages. She has won many awards for her write-ups. She speaks five languages.

SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

Freedom For All

 

Entering life, foetus freed from the womb,

fleeing from life, the dead enter the tomb.

Infant free in the warmth of the mother

adolescents chafe at the bit, chasing another 

each seeks freedom, the double-edged sword 

that fickle mistress, soon gets bored.

The prisoner looking out of bars

strains to glimpse the sky and stars,

the soldier wedded to fiery arms

dreaming of his new bride’s charms.

Patriots fight for the country’s freedom,

refugees seek freedom in any fiefdom.

How the caged canary, flutters to fly

when orphans seek a patch of the earth to lie.

The child to just be himself

the adult thrilled at freedom with coming of pelf; 

each thinks freedom will bring total joy

that soon becomes just another old toy.

The artist yearns a sky to paint upon

wield the wind carving chiffon mists at dawn. 

Books to gain freedom from ignorance 

students seek respite from a life rigorous.

The jobless hunt work of any kind

workers craving rest, body and mind.

Deliverance from the brothel? Wonders the whore 

wishes to live, a single dream at core.

Privileged feminist, the freedom she grabs

deprives many covered in rags.

Freedom- a servant loyal? Will anyone pledge

each moment balancing on a razor’s edge?

One who’s lived through every form

emerged victorious through every storm

the soul ascended free of rebirth, 

having done with living all on earth.

Copyright@Dr Sunil Kaushal

 

Freedom Raga

 

What is the way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

Hedged by barbed wire fences

political social religious nationalist, 

age color caste gender-biased?

I’d rather draw my own parameters

create a box my own, 

fit a square into a round hole 

severe shackles binding my soul.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I’d rather spurn ideologies obsolete 

transcend values that no longer stood

for mankind’s collective highest good

Listen to that voice burning my innards 

screaming to be heard

rebalance and heal my world,

my narrative and power reclaim

disseminate freedom to those

unable to do the same?

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

The heart missing beats 

lungs wheezing 

in the throes of a dying democracy

strangulating freedom?

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I want to moult my skin 

recoiling in revulsion, 

rebel against jumping 

through hoops, a circus monkey,

running rat races buying and selling.

Own moments not money stagnating in banks

let my acquisitions be the joys I collect in a day

not accounts reflecting how my balance sways

meet my own standards of approval 

live life nurturing joy, not laws primeval.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

I want my intelligence seen in ways other than 

a few words certified by an ignoramus chancellor

have a job that flows my cup over the brim

than one with an assured pension.

Open arms wide, 

seek and embrace all of life

sing the bulbul’s song dance in abandon

free to just be

break out of the cage a bird of the skies

love like a child learning joyously

flourish and thrive.

 

What is the right way to live? 

In a box? In freedom?

As the axis in life’s wheel can I lead?

Divorce all that kills my spirit

with endless do’s don’ts ifs and buts.

Bear a child if and when I want to 

not because my age 

or my diminishing ova dictate.

For crumbs off the patriarchal table 

not have to beg or crawl

be a woman 

still have it all?

Copyright@Dr. Sunil Kaushal 

 

A Brave New World

 

A brave new world

I keep resolving to make

within myself

where I seek not

myself through others

not judged

black or brown

young or old

where caste 

trips not my steps

hurrying to catch up with life

fleeing from my grasp

through gnarled fingers of time

where time and space 

are no constraint

to flights in freedom.

 

Ah! to have been born free

to live freely

to love freely 

to pierce the skies

with free expressions

hearing echoes of my song mingle 

with the music of the universe

-wave upon wave

-ringing in the cosmos

-free of all emotions

-no stormy passions 

free of bondage

born free!

Copyright@Dr. Sunil Kaushal

 

SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

Awarded author Dr. SUNIL KAUSHAL, studied in schools all over India, her father having been an army officer. Her nomadic life, visiting and living in new towns every 2 years, has been very interestingly chronicled in her debut book of memoirs, Gypsy Wanderings & Random Reflections, which was awarded the Nissim Award by the prestigious International poetry group, The Significant League, in the non-fiction category for ‘exquisite prose’. She attended college at one of the most prestigious colleges, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, India. Later she went on to doing her medical studies at Govt. Medical College, Amritsar, India, followed by 40 years of practice in Obstetrics-Gynaecology at Jalandhar, Punjab. Although she has been writing sporadically since her childhood, her writings were carefully tucked away from the public eye. At age 70 she learnt to use a computer and started writing full time, sharing her poetry and prose online. She is pleasantly surprised to discover the poet and writer in her being recognized, every time she wins an award. This trilingual writer writes in English, Hindi and her mother tongue Punjabi, which she has never studied but is self-taught. Published in a number of National and International anthologies and magazines, some of her poems have been translated into French, German, Greek, and Chinese. Her writing is mostly woman-centric, romantic, sensuous, poems about marginalized people. She also writes philosophical, spiritual, besides humorous poetry. Her love for life keeps her vibrant and active which reflects in her writings.