The Red Blanket Poem by Rafiq Sandeelvi

The Red Blanket

Rating: 4.5


Pale, consumptive face
parched lips
sunken cheeks
withered ribs
lifeless knees
sweaty joints
the chest - like a bellow
gripped in stridor
sagging, eternally half-closed eyes
Dense, phlegmatic breaths

a whirlwind
rising from the spine
spiraling in the head
blending with the blues
a chronic pain
in the ancient tuberculosis
blood writhing in the veins
the body, wasting away.

What do I do?
this thick, grubby, red blanket
has enveloped me from head to toe
I want to kick it away
I want to smile.

(Translated by Zafar Syed)

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Emily Angel 03 August 2011

Tuberculosis is a painful reality....We almost have no way out....The pain...The sorrow.....The yearning for freedom...Everything seems to be expressed brilliantly...One of the best I've read! ! ! !

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Preston James 22 August 2011

great symbolism. the pain is expressed so well. this is a really good poem, thank you for sharing it with me.

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Rose Favela 13 October 2011

It's a nice poem it's vert well detailed

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Kee Thampi 23 October 2011

very good and meaning ful to society of this world weaty joints the chest - like a bellow gripped in stridor sagging, eternally half-closed eyes Dense, phlegmatic breaths...

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Catlina Daniels 23 October 2011

I really like this poem.....good job! ! !

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Brian Jani 26 June 2014

Young forever.....myth.well written poem Rafiq

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Hazel Durham 01 January 2014

Intense with the pain of getting old so wonderfully expressed, kick off the mindset and smile! Great write!

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Shania K. Younce 26 December 2013

I find this poem. Yet I quite enjoyed it.

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Rinki Nandy 02 April 2013

What do I do? this thick, grubby, red blanket has enveloped me from head to toe I want to kick it away I want to smile. You can smile that way as well! What's wrong with thick, grubby, red blanket? Life is about living... feeling what you feel. NOthing tragic about the old age..If youth could be cherished, why can't old age as well be?

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Uzma Jamil 21 July 2012

you capture situation in a heavnly way, stay connected to words.........

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