A tribute to Asifa
I cried
I cried for help, I cried for mercy
I cried in pain, I cried in fear
I cried in anger, I cried in shame
When can I see my horses again?
I cried the night, I cried the morning
I cried for Mum, I cried for Dad
I cried for uncles, I cried for aunties
When will they come and help me?
I cried in hunger, I cried in thirst
I cried in cold, I cried in sickness
I cried for food, I cried for milk
When will they let me go home?
I cried to stop, I cried for life
I cried in tears, I cried in blood
I cried when I am awake, I cried when I am
unconscious
When will my bleeding stop?
I cried for help, I cried for mercy
I cried in fear, I cried in pain
I cried and cried and cried…
Because I know I won’t be home anymore.
L Mang Ngaihte
The Last Laugh
Confronted with curiosity as they candidly spoke,
Elucidate as with cause since they despised a joke,
Bewildered was I, other than for everyone to see;
There’s constantly other side of the story as it be,
Was engaged to toil, the arena of political show;
Of a barren land, to turn fertile and make it glow;
Genuine associates, rescuers all came to cohere;
Endowed a help out, of hands from far and near;
Aspirants list of names declared, I was not there;
An awkward act, the affront which I had to bear;
Enquired rhyme with reason, how was I ignored;
So vaguely came the reply, I walked out the door;
Was severely wounded, cuts akin of salon blades;
For fortune that altered, of effortless twirl of fate;
Alike situations re-iterated in the past, but gone;
Beloved ones beside me, opines waste to mourn;
The grace, strength and status that have depart;
The hypocrites, deceives by their bleeding heart;
Yes, all was not loss and with wings on our feet;
We shifted allegiance, with the intend to unseat;
Efforts yielded the outcome,
Brandishing of scarves;
Too late to dabbles, triumphantly, the last laugh.
Sonny L Khyriem
Spring time
Hitting spring corners, love winks at time
Dance lifts spirits of mine to repeat efforts
To be young, even with a leaning head.
Singing in bathrooms, I imitate hopefully
Love’s honeyed lips, clapping of my own accord
To break youthful record of shouting joyfully
Slightly away from children.
Love nurses me, dance stimulates my mirth
During spring time, pushing me ahead of wisdom,
Pulling me from dark thoughts
To eternal light of confidence.
Let us be green insiders, strongly guarded by flowers
We will be evergreen
Conquering air of laziness and sickness.
Bipul Chandra Kalita