Rajku Capers Poem by Raj Arumugam

(the series is an experiment in various forms of short verse or micro-verse; the parts may be read as discreet units or as a sequence with one’s own narrative)




1

haiku is, many counsel me unsolicited,
three lines within a structure;
says who-ku?


2

many follow rules
and rules anticipated them;
but rules crumble before the unexpected


3

well, damn! if my haiku
is not haiku
i’ll just call it rajku!


4

the book is strange;
where is the beginning, middle
and the end…where are they?


5

poetry and all things
are useful in their space:
there is an end to poetry



6

one line too is poetry magic


7

i’m mad with a new idea


8

i turn off the lights; there is…


9

one see the woman’s eyes; one is enchanted


10

one word made her turn to murder


11

she can still kill
with one look –
but then, I’ve always been willing to die



12

will you wait for me?
well, please wait; but of course
I may not turn up


13

you asked me for an honest opinion;
i told you the truth;
and so you taught me to lie always


14

what’s going on next door?
but do you know
what’s going on indoors?


15

why did you come to shelter
in the land of poetry?


16

it’s easy to see
the lies one tells others;
but it’s not so easy
to see the lies one holds
so close to one’s heart



17

have you heard
the echoes
in your mind?



18

have you seen
the subtle lies
you tell yourself?


19

what we call self is
just formation of conditioning


20

do we communicate?
or we distort all
through our mental formations?