The Pangs of Ulster

The king had challenged all to race against his horses and win

How she wished, her husband would have kept silent and refrained!

He had boasted she was quicker on her feat, she had it from within!

And now she had to race, to release him, for he was chained.

Macha pleaded, "leave me now as am about to deliver;

I agree he should have known better not to utter so"

But the king was stern. He threatened she'ld loose him forever;

She cried and urged to the men around, but none listened to her woe.

Due for labour, she was being forced to race with birth-pang throes

She begged him to spare her till she placed the lives within her on this land

But the ego wounded king would care not and ordered her on her toes

She wriggled in pain and feminity hurting as she readied to race on sand

Macha, disgusted and vulnerable, set out to race with horses of the king

She whizzed past them to reach the end of course, and won by clear margin

She collapsed and writhed in pain and her screams on field began to ring

They were born, a girl and boy on the land, gave name to Emhain Macha, those twins

Her howls drained the energy in all men who heard her on field at ulster

She cursed the king and the men, until 'beyond the ninth wave' to come

they would be as weak as a woman in her labour time to muster

no strength to fight when it would be most needed and will succumb

The time a woman would spend in labour, for five days and four nights

You would wail your lack of strength when you would need most to defend

The curse prevailed, that she uttered in agony at violation of her rights

Her feminity ransacked and exposed with no hand of support that was lent

When Medhbh of connacht raided Ulster to capture the bull of Cooley

No man could withstand the rage, sullened by the curse

"Titim gan eiri ort", had Macha cursed truly

Men garnered havoc upon themselves, that liveth with them even in remorse

"beyond the ninth wave" - It is a traditional Irish concept meaning 'beyond the known world' found within ancient mythological texts and stories. MAcha places a curse not only on the men who heard her cry, but their sons for nine generations after. Nine, as well as three, is a commonly seen number in Irish mythology

"Titim gan eiri ort" - May you fall without risinge

Daddy, do I get my christmas presents as well?

For a non christian living in India like me
Christmas was a revelation since when I was three

Have seen the fir trees decorate the church at school
and the beautiful mistletoes catching youngsters drool

As I grew I learnt a lot more
the base values came to the fore

Today, every mall, park or beach is decorated so well
"Merry Christmas!" you can hear everyone yell

I loved it when my son from school, came running and jumping
He said he got a gift from his teacher, his fists in air pumping

Before the school closed for vacations
They set everyone into these festive sensations

In his fifth year now, he knows lot more than I did when I was so
He loves to meet and greet everyone, so excited in the festive tempo

At the end of one fine day, he came home with a longing tear
and said, "Mom, can we have a christmas tree this year?"

"I want a surprise", he said, "Dad, let us celebrate Christmas too..
We have so many festivals. Like Diwali this is a happy day too!"

Well, that was the truth.. any day to spread love and wishes around
and to say all those unspoken words that could brighten every one they found

When we said, "Yes son.. Lets enjoy every time around and every festival!"
He smiled coyly and said, "Daddy, Do I get my Christmas presents as well?"




© Jay

'Twas yesterday when we first kissed, my love"

When dreams revisit innocence and youth
The sweetest distant memory I view
One instant, an awakening in truth
The wonder of the moment I kissed you

All sweetness seemed to live within your eyes
Forever will the memory persist!
Enfolded in the magical surprise
Contained within the moment of our kiss

Astonishing emotions filled the air
The universe quite simply disappeared
Enchanted, mesmerized yet so aware
Discovering what lovers hold so dear

Though days have fled and dimmed as stars above
'Twas yesterday when we first kissed, my love

HAUNTED FOREST

September 12, 2001

His hunt was good, his aim straight, with the kill he was homeward bound
As o’er the treetops the screams he heard, found his home burned to the ground His lovely Neha lay beside the well, baby Jia still in her embrace

Little Neville lying close by, so still; as from one to the other his eyes raced

September 13, 2001

With leaden heart and tear filled eyes, he gently stroked them one by one

Wept softly as he laid them to rest, in their graves by setting sun

“I’ll get you, damned men of the devil”; he would not wait for break of day

His vow to hunt down these killers, on his shoulders this burden lay

September 14, 2001

As he lay upon the forest floor, his life seeping slowly away

He renewed his vow to find them, He would somehow, someday
The cries of his dear children, the screams from his loving wife

Still echo in his heart and mind, throughout his lonesome afterlife

September 16, 2008

As a shadowy figure stalks the night, midst timbers tall against the sky

Stealthily peering into the darkness, in his mind Nial still asks, ‘Why?’
All those many long years ago, his family met the wrath of fire

At the hands of murderous heathens, with hearts of evil desire

September 17, 2009

Now through the days and nights, though many years have passed

There are those, who swear they’ve seen him, eyes piercing the darkness, overcast
Never ceasing his haunting pursuit, he’ll one day find them, vengeance take Turning deaf ears to their mournful pleas, leave them lying dead in his wake

2009 © Jaysvimal

Unspoken Words

Unspoken words left to freeze
Only to leave haunting memories
Perhaps because we do not talk
We're geared to run instead of walk

Tender moments all too few
Unending work we must do
So quickly we grow old
With words of love yet untold

To hide them in your heart
Isn't kind nor very smart
Words can comfort someone sad
Encourage them and make them glad

Of time it only takes minutes few
It's what we surely ought to do
Or we may find, after loved ones go
Unspoken words can haunt our soul

© Jaysvimal

This poem has got published in the book "Immortal Verses" few years ago and also in Ripples!p

Its a Jungle out there!

Zeroed down, for life, she was lying still
Yelling loud,then she ran, fearing a kill
Xanthippe - they named her, to their heart's fill
Wordbound she fell down, her soul was ill.
Venerous vultures dressed in disguise
Ulterior motives filled in every dime and dice

Tender creatures we, they, crushed us like ice
Sensous beings, fried with violent spice
Religated with ropes of burden hard indeed
Quadrels hurled at us, with inhuman speed
Pounding hearts, trembled, no one to heed
Overset with disgust, submitted to their greed

No wonder this world has become a jungle
Meandering animals, filled every space and symbol
Love turned to vengence, paid a bitter fare
Killers everywhere, raise voice, did no one dare
Jealousy sprang with no one to care,
It's a Jungle, yes, It's a jungle out there!

Howling foxes, incapable, elected to rule
Growing crime, only to make each citizen, a fool
Foolish followers some, in trance did they drool
Economy drained, running behind a mule
Destructive animals, reincarnated as men
Cannibals like they, exploding from their den

Bombing and Firing with no humanity left laden
Arise should the saviour, to hug the sad and gladden

© 2009 (Written for the Poetry Idol National Poetry Month.. in response to the challenge to write a reverse Abecedarius, with the theme - Its a Jungle out there!)

An abecedarius is an acrostic in which the first letter of every word, strophe or verse follows the order of the alphabet.

Been a while since I posted new poems here. Here are the five natural elements compared to the five earthly elements.:)

A Mouthful of Sky

Vast canvases spread around
The beautiful earth as we found
The secrets pleasures all lured in
On the wonder bed we made our Kin

The power of it universally known
The lack of it brought everywhere a frown
The earthly pleasures it got and dealth
Whatever could that be other than wealth

The gentle and the hearty breeze
As it came sway did the trees
Had it not been for the wind so profound
How could ever the fragrance spread around

The nature of it omnipresent
For to rule the world is it meant
Every gap power creeps as wind does
Got to bend before it and not to fuss

Tempting drops from above shall fall
Over the wide earth to wet it all
If it weren't for the rain so plain
Our hopes would all gone in vain

Every moment of the life so fine
As the blood trickles down each vein
If not for this rejuvenator all so vital
How could a man ever live? He a mere mortal!

Burning agog spreading vigor & fright
Lightening the world over all so bright
If not for this Fire ever
Darkness could never be brightened, never

The burning urge to acquire
Spreading around like quick fire
If not for Desire, who would ever lead
The path of growth would never succeed

The bounds of the cover known never
Up above a protection for ever
Soaring again up all so high
If only one could ever touch this Sky

The aims we set all so high
To retell ourselves to do or die
The moment of Glory forever in the dreams
For the pride of victory is the soul that screams

Jay

PS: This is an offshoot many years ago to the title song of the English Soap on DDII - A Mouthful Of Sky.

Earth, Wind and Rain and Fire;
Wealth, Power, Blood, Desire;
One goal to live for before we die...
One taste of glory; One Mouthful of Sky

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Last night my dreams
Were not about you;
For the first time,
In longer than I can remember!

I dreamt of nonsense things;
Icecreams and animals,
Red grass and blue trees,
And then, I woke up.

I didn't reach across my bed;
To feel if you were there.
The sweet taste of morning
Felt like freedom.

I don't feel like loving you today.
I feel like living,
My own life,
In my own way!

So maybe tomorrow,
I will wake up like I normally do;
Confused by the fact,
That you are laying beside me.

I might even
Feel a stab of regret...
For everything that I feel
Wishing you were not there!

But yes I thought its time
And accepted my space...
For I know I will never get it,
If I leave it now.

All you could be to me today!

That day you opened your heart to me
I thought after all why..had it only to be me?
I never truly realised
the depth of your emotions
well, that was then...all those years back!

You made me laugh..You made me happy...
I accepted you as my best friend
yes, You made the me I am today..
Even then I never for once felt
What you were feeling for me at heart.

I talked about him to you, You never spoke a word
Every word I said to you was true
All you did was to give me that supporting nod.
He came into my life all of a sudden
But left me with a heart, full of burden

With you around,
why did I for him, search
who did nothing more than leaving me in this lurch.
I knew, seeing me cry, was too much for you to bear
but all you said was , with you , I am there.

That day,
that was day I realised my friend...
what you wanted to be to me
One so close to my heart..
To catch its pieces when they fell apart

But then, as with him I was playing my innings
Fate had played its game too
and there you were long gone with someone
who realised your true worth
more than this innocent girl who overlooked you

All you could be to me today is all what a true friend can be-
nothing less
your heart would never forgive...
nothing more
your wife would never forgive....

© Jaysvimal

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When She Had Said "NO"

When she had said "No" -
He did not look into her eyes, and
See the heart framed in a casement of pain.
He had taken it to be so,
For he had misunderstood her.
If he had asked her once more, just once more,
Then her pride dissolved..
She'd have rushed him.
Instead he walked away,
Bearing a pain that she had
Not wished to inflict on him.
He had not understood her condition!
Was it too her fault?

-Jayanthi S Vimal

Jay's Poetry Palace

Simple, sweet, elegant and tall
Men used such words to me call
The passion these heels brought in me
What a happiness it brought so free
for everyone at my feet did fall

Jay's Poetry Palace

Am i a rebel?

before i was born everyone wished i were a boy
well there i was born a cute little girl
then, was i a rebel?

when i got a mickey as a gift and my sis a teddy
i pulled the teddy off from my sis in a giffy
then, was i a rebel?

In school when everyone wrote about dog
as a favourite pet i wrote on a horse
then , was i a rebel?

When it was my friends birthday and just not mine
I threw a tantrum and succeded in celebrating mine that day
then, was i a rebel?

When papa got me a beautiful red dress
i threw it off for blue was my favourite colour
then, was i a rebel?

When the full class got thrashed for the mistake of just one
i openly condemned the practise of punishment
then, was i a rebel?

When everyone ventured into computers
I insisted on taking up science
then, was i a rebel?

When everyone wanted me to be a doctor
I just wanted and elected to be an engineer
then, was i a rebel?

When everyone worked all day long
I preferred to stay up late at night
then, was i a rebel?

When everyone kept going out and enjoying late nights
there i burried myself deep into work
then, was i a rebel?

When my date wanted to kiss me right at first
All I asked him was to just get lost
then, was i a rebel?

When my parents found me a guy to get married to
I fussed and got married to the man i loved
then, was i a rebel?

When my beloved wanted to start the family
I wanted to stabilize my career first
then, was i a rebel?

When my kid never wanted to have food
I forced the child to have its food
then, was i a rebel?

When our kids wanted to lead life their way
I felt a thorn in my heart and sulked
then, was i a rebel?

When our children left us in the wild
I insisted that we werent alone
then, was i a rebel?

When after my death they would burry me in the cemetry
All i want is to be laid in my backyard
Am i a rebel?

I am tired of being called a rebel
Doesn't it make sense to anyone, no ring on the bell
all I wanted was to live life my way
if only i was let to have my happiness sway

© Jaysvimal