Friday 28 November 2008

Souvenirs

I walked over a heap of bodies
Tucked away.
I felt the blood clots dissolve
As it rained, again.
I turned back,
To count the corpses many-
The fresh fragrance of gun powder
Made me lose count,
And I started all over again.

My eyes strayed to a piece of metal,
Trapped beneath the pile,
A loaded magazine, I cried!
Sneaked it out, and pressed it safe
Into my jacket new.
A prized piece, for my collection.

I walked over a heap of bodies,
Newly piled up.
I swooped in before others,
And found a finger hanging loose,
As though waiting to be taken away.
I acceded,
And walked away
With a piece of someone.

I heard the journalists cry over exclusive rights,
And I heard the cries of anguish too,
But distinguish one from the other,
I could not.
My eyes searched out disaster
And I never had to be disappointed.

As night began to dawn,
I walked back home,
With my prized new possessions-

Waterlogged bombs.
Loaded magazine.
Guns and rifles, empty.
Pieces of flesh, once alive.
Ear shattering cries.
Memories of someone's fear.
Orphaned humanity.
Snippets of bravery.

And as I went to bed,
I searched for my soul,
And found it missing.

I rummaged through my souvenirs anew,
But, in vain.
And, I ran out into the open
Searching for my soul,
Lost.

13 comments:

  1. Ah! The way you weave magic with your words, takes you to that place! Beautiful words flowing out from your pen! A very intense and graphic piece, I got goosebumps girl. Bravo! :)

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  2. each word spoke a lot..
    and hit right at the heart..
    one of the best from u..

    only sad thing is its about such a depressing episode:(

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  3. So poignant Sashu - you're brilliant!

    C

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  4. Fantastic. And, as Tara says.. Goosebumps!

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  5. @ Tara
    even though ur words make me glad, i am sad that the compliments came in for such a tragic piece.thank you :)

    @ praveen
    i couldnt hv agreed more about this bein on a depressin episode, it mars me frm appreciatin the beauty of the comments i receive. thanks!

    @ Cornine
    thank you!

    @Usha mema
    thank you!

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  6. Hi Sashu - Thanks for your comment - have taken the liberty of adding it to my main post.
    Take care.
    C

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  7. Wonderful lines even though the occassion was a sad one!

    Simple fabulous!

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  8. @corinne
    thanks so much!! :)

    @ rakesh
    thanks a lot :)

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  9. poetry comes naturally to you yaar...you literally play with those words and arrange in those seemingly perfect lines...and i really liked the way you finished this piece...speaks volumes of the kinda command you have...cheers gal...keep scribbling...

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  10. haunting images.. great work

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  11. stark and haunting images...chilling read,brilliant! as usual

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  12. @ Sandeep
    thanks so much :) such appreciation makes me feel humbled! thanks!

    @jimmy
    thank you :)

    @aria
    thanks very much! nice to c ya here :)

    @vrinda
    thank you very much!! :)

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  13. This is truly off the block and really one of the very differently appealing works from you.

    God bless!

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Hollers!!

 

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