In this arid plain
Of perennial drought,
As I stand transfixed
With vexations rising in my spirit
And sadness lying mute as a stone,
I discern, I am alone
With none to hold my hand
Or share the burden
That weighs me down.
Trudging rugged paths
With my mournful shadow
Tottering along,
The past sneers at me
Breaking open bottled up memories-
Of years spent in unbridled passion,
The smell of cigarettes, ganja and beer
Wine and women, bet and gambling,
And the thrill of having won and lost
Once I walked with stilted gait
Surrounded by friends and fans,
Amid laughter and haste
Eager to please and to praise
Inebriated and effervescent were we
Went to ball and ballets
Fancied money could buy all we yearned
And turn this Earth-a virtual Paradise
But how swift was the twist of fate!
With no condiments,
Life suddenly turned bland.
The gorgeous castles I once built,
Burnt down to cinders
Like dry leaves blown by the wind,
Friends, I thought never would desert,
Flitted away one by one!
With dejection and despair
Warping me down
A rabid dog I strayed.
Grew irritable and vicious,
Fled away from bond and bondage
Spitting the saliva of my angst
I barked… barked at everyone
"Where did vanish all the fabulous dreams
Whither gone life's ritzy splendours?
But the wild fire burnt itself down,
Now a passive stillness has settled in.
In this inert hush, as I grope,
Through the murky corridors of life
With the sound of my footsteps
Falling like a thud,
A single query breaks out from within
‘Where shall I hide unseen
From this horrid loneliness
Staring me in the eyes? '
The reminiscences of the defeated man who once felt he reigned the world and his horrid loneliness now are well brought out in your beautiful poem.As always your wonderful write is enjoyable.Thanks.
As the last phase of the wild journey torments this completely wrecked man, he emerges as a ghost in waiting to haunt the ill fated homes of most men and it is hoped that his utterances will checkmate the faulty steps still being made by the latter. Poems of this kind have to serve as an eye-opener for many men who are are on the verge of a collapse. Well intended and grandly executed, dear Madam Valsa, ...
At the day's end another music rings, past is its lyric, tune is its present feelings. Lovely Ma'am.
But the wild fire burnt itself down, Now a passive stillness has settled in. In this inert hush, as I grope, Through the murky corridors of life With the sound of my footsteps Falling like a thud, A single query breaks out from within ‘Where shall I hide unseen From this horrid loneliness Staring me in the eyes? '.....so touching and impressive. Great work. Thanks for sharing.
A single query breaks out from within ‘Where shall I hide unseen From this horrid loneliness Staring me in the eyes? ' A defeated man, now lonely, looking for a place to hide him, such a touching poem that makes the readers silent and sobers. Great poem.
Wonderful write. At the last leg of our journey most get lonely. Very touchy and effective poem.
This is a powerful poem of a life sunk into utter despair. You found a way to have him tell us of his prosperous past, his precipitous fall and the lengthening years of humiliation, without giving him a credible personality which would have been inconsistent with his condition. Your poem reminds me of Shakespeare's late play TIMON OF ATHENS, which no one likes, but your poem shows even the Timons of the world need sympathy because of that lingering thread of our common humanity in them. At least, your Timon isn't trying to infect the people around him with a deadly disease. He has not fallen that far..
The 'I' the main theme in this excellent poem of rise and fall indeed empires have travelled the same path, first visit enjoyed...regards
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
How soon we fall from grace from riches to rags well written but such sadness..............................: O)