SUMITRA MISHRA

 

 

Pitch Fever

 

They shone like stars

Pele, Maradona, Messi, Mbappe,

In classic contests on the field

One leads and the other trails

But the penalty kick decides

Who would lift the World Cup

At Qatar!!!

 

Exhilarating matches in packed stadiums

A test of nerve and skill

Amid the pitch fever and feverish pitch

They conquered or were vanquished

But who is the hero and who the zero?

 

Fairy tale victories by Morocco

Inspiring the underdog African nations

Super yachts of Dubai at sky high prices

Free flowing champagne and Scotch

This World Cup surely raised the temperature

Of nations and fans, of FIFA and Fernandez

It proved that all are equal on the field

Below poverty line countries or the super-rich !!!

 

Shut-mouthed

 

I learnt soon enough

That to get along

I have to go along!!!

 

Got to humble down

Play dumb,

When shut-mouthed

Keep silent

When called a slut

Called a dim-wit

Called careless, useless

Look at the dumb wall

And cement myself into it!!!

 

I knew

Someone was testing my patience,

My courage!

 

My friends and family were thunderstruck

By the way I was shut-mouthed,

The way I was derided, debunked,

But I promised myself

I will be silent

And win my goals through silence

Will win over everybody in silence!

 

God made sure

I go ahead of all in silence!!!

 

I shined brighter

Looked more and more beautiful

They looked at me in awe

And wondered

Why was I hiding myself so long

All because of a shut-mouthing,

That made me dumb,

Made me a tortoise

Hiding myself in my shell

For fear of being poked or prodded,

 Thrashed or bulldozed,

But inside my cocoon I hibernated long, sleepless,

Like the caterpillar I meditated and prayed,

Developed wings of imagination

And was born a butterfly

Fluttering in the garden of

Literary Eden,

Silent and speechless, yet

Holding the magic rainbow in my wings!!!

 

SUMITRA MISHRA

 

SUMITRA MISHRA is a Retired Professor of English and a bilingual writer who writes in English and her mother tongue Odia. To her credit she has published six books of poetry titled 1. PENELOPE’S WEB, 2. FLAMES OF SILENCE 3. THE SOUL OF FIRE, 4. STILL THE STONES SING, 5.THE RED MOON, 6. ROSES AND BRUISES, 7. WHISPERING SHADOWS 8. THE EBBING TIDE and a short story titled REMENISCENCE. Dr. Mishra has also written poetry, short stories, plays, prose and translation books in her mother tongue. Her published English books are 12 in number and 35 in Odia. Her poems and stories have been published in many reputed magazines and e-zines in both Odia and English. She is editing a women's magazine in Odia titled SMRUTI SANTWONA and a magazine on Sri Jagannath cult PANCHAJANYA. She is a Rotarian and President of Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar New Horizon. She is a member of many esteemed Literary organizations like Utkal Sahitya Samaj ( since 1903) , Shantanu Acharya Foundation Trust, Sweta Sanketa Trust.  She is a life member of Odisha Lekhika Sansad.  She is an avid blogger and her blog is www.Smiling Sumitra.com, where she posts videos of her English and Odia poetry as well as short stories and chants.