Poetry

Ode to Peace

Dr Ranbir LaishramIn twilight's hush, where shadows dance and play,I search for you, dear Peace, and pray.A fleeting dream, a whispered promise sweet,A gentle breeze that stirs the soul to meet.In days of old, your warmth illuminated my way,A golden light..

The Power of Poppy - 75

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy launches a multi-pronged attackAttack on the 'natives'Attack on the historicity of Kanglei historyAttack on 'this singular oasis of comparative civilisation'Attack on one of the earliest civi..

The Wounded Mercenary

Dr Ranbir LaishramHe crossed the porous border,Hired and paid, with a gun in hand.Trained to kill, with a singular goal,To fire his lethal gun, and kill, without control.In traditional attire, not combat gear,He marched to fulfill his deadly peer.His miss..

The Painted Facade

Gyanabati KonjengbamIn the sea of materialismWhere value drowns,Attention shines, authenticity fades.Integrity is dissolved in the flow of expectations.That space is painted with socio-creations’ lavishnessWhere souls are lost in waves of unrealityI..

The Power of Poppy - 74

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy -propelled-illegal immigrants A threat to 'Sanaleibak Manipur 'Poppy - backed narco-terroristsA threat to 'Kangleipak Manipur 'A threat to 'Bharat India '...

Cocoon of Despair

Dr Ranbir LaishramAre we surviving or dead?Trapped in a cocoon, a desolate breathAway from mainstream, prosperity, and lifeAway from bursting life, a distant, fading strifeCornered by bands, blockades, and hateRivalry and unending conflicts, an endless we..

A Choir of Cries

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo RihmoIf crying itself could cry,It will beg with hands folded.If struggling itself could struggle,It will defy till the last wheezing breath.If seeing itself could see,It will stare into helpless eyes, wide open.If fighting itself c..

The Power of Poppy - 73

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy believes in social media 'history''History' propagated by social media 'scholars''Scholars' bereft of objectivity 'Scholars' sans integrity 'Scholars' without critical mind/thinking...

From Ashes to Hope

Dr Ranbir LaishramFrom harrowing tales to annihilation's might,I clung to hope, a glimmer of light.With inner strength, I ventured out Leaving my sweet  home to survive.And to take refuge at relief camp.The life of internally displaced...The ruthless..

The Mirage of Moirang

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo RihmoMoirang where is your courage,Did we lose it in the begging bowl of water.Thingkhangphai why is your soil red,Is it because of the fluttering flag.Khongjom where is your bravery,Did we entomb it in coppery glory.Chassad where i..

To My Master Kaduangaipou

Poukhinlung GangmeiWhen people think of themself,Think of the places You could help;All things could change to nothing my son.When all are against you for the truth you hold,Hold on those truth till your last breath;The truth will thank you.When people te..

The Power of Poppy - 72

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyTrafficking' is the middle namePoppy has no issue with human traffickingBe it man woman and childPoppy loves 'drug trafficking ' mostA transit route for drug trafficking...

Light for All

Chongtham RonikumarI am half mad in the eyes of peopleNot so in reality !The omnipotent know everything.Sun rises from the eastAnd this organic matter is  created for allIncluding living and non living things andSets down in the west .Nevertheless, s..

Our Homeland, our Manipur

Dr Ranbir LaishramA gift from God, so rare,A place of beauty, beyond compare.A world of wonder, where life abounds,A paradise of sights and sounds.From the nine mountain ranges to the Loktak lake,The 'floating lake', the largest freshwater lake,in South A..

By a poor lunatic man

Chongtham RonikumarYelling in a ruinous mannerBecoming a victim of himselfWhom unconscious parents betrayOwing to lack of required knowledgeTo deal with this mental paralysis.Why do rational people feel irrational,In this difficult time?Making him to comm..

The Power of Poppy - 71

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy gives pleasure and powerWho chooses Poppy over peopleWho cultivates Poppy over riceWho harnesses Poppy over forestWho harvest Poppy over (other) crops..

A Call to Unity

Dr Ranbir LaishramCan justice reign, if we languidly stand,Babble, while injustice spreads its root across the homeland ?Can peace and harmony prevail,If spite and malice, we continually hail?Can change occur, if we don't strive,With new ideas and a willi..

Dwell in the Moment

Tourangbam JeniferAs the journey of life goesMultitude of obstacles and joyous moments showLike a beautiful constellation in heaven.Despite the travel along the twisty roadBegins the showers of levinLeaving mistakes , grief and fearAs tons of memories are..

The Power of Poppy - 70

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyA magic lamp in the handPoppy transformed poor men's rich landInto rich men's poor landThe metamorphosis of man into animalThe gift of Poppy that is...

A Favourite Poem

Shahnaz IslamI am weird,you said.Because not only have I fallen for mountains alwaysbut also could not refrain from sinking in your oceans right away.Your voice often rides the chiming winds andyour waves stoke my heart with your stains.Undoubtedly you ar..

The Power of Poppy - 69

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy If and when Poppy (money) hovers around It is always like Blood is not thicker than water Not water the elixir of lifeIt is (Poppy) money money all the way...

Still Waiting

Dr Ranbir LaishramWe are still waiting, with hearts so true,For a life of normalcy, and peace anew.A life far from chaos, and social unrest,Where bandhs and blockades are just a distant test.We yearn to travel freely, by road and by air,East, West, North ..

Kangleipak's Unwavering Soul

Dr Ranbir LaishramThrough the ages, generations rise and fall,Leaders come and go, yet our homeland's spirit stands tall.Scholars born, scholars pass, leaving wisdom's legacy,Wealth blooms, wealth withers, but resilience remains our destiny.Wars rage, war..

The Power of Poppy - 68

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy is in the august company of The powerful lot of the land Poppy is hand in glove withThe people who are in positions of power Poppy is in league with the Devil...

Coo

Gangmei PoukhinlungThe stars shine bright above, but i have a star that says coo coo!The dazzling night sky puts on its showbut I have a bedside concert of lullaby to sing toThe moon watches with envy as my child beside me coos  Cooing softly, a prec..

Accepting the change

Dr Ranbir LaishramTime's relentless march,a truth we can't deny,Brings change to all, and we must wonder why.The world keeps spinning, life in Kangkeipak too,Undergoes transformations, some slow, some anew.Our kingdom once proud, with mighty kings of old,..

The Power of Poppy - 67

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyWhen Poppy knocks at your doorYou compromise your self respectYou sell out your integrityWhen Poppy came callingYou failed in your 'Raj Dharma'..

Embracing the Shadows

Dr Ranbir LaishramIn twilight's hush, where shadows softly fall,Ethnic strife and I entwined, through it all.A somber sky, a heart that's worn and sore,I yearn for peace, but it's a fleeting score.I ask the wind, "When will this strife subside?When will t..

The Power of Poppy - 66

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy is a unique flower Unique in more ways than one A flower worshipped by powerful elites A flower that does/will do everything for money But not anything for people...

Hope Amidst Strife

Dr Ranbir LaishramIn Kangleipak's troubled land,Where shadows of strife and pain expand,A glimmer of hope still shines like a beacon bright,Illuminating the dark of night.Through reflections of years gone by,Grief, loss, and unmet hopes whisper sighs.Yet,..

The Weeping Gods of Manipur

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo RihmoIf I were to die, don’t burn me,Give me a proper fire burial,And my ashes, scatter them,In the turbulent waters of Irang,Or the snaking flows of Iril,And in my second burial,Take my remains to Sugnu,The confluence of Chak..

The Power of Poppy - 65

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy blooms in the dense forests And made them deserts Poppy blossoms among the homo sapiensPoppy shines for humans And takes away humanity from humans...

That May

Gyanabati KonjengbamThe land where serenity blooms,where kaleidoscope colors shimmer.The symphony of sorrow echoes;the unheard voice screams unspoken words.The heart that cries out in silenceshatters into fractions of pieces.The broken bits pray for harmo..

Cold

Shahnaz IslamIt’s not the winter whispering at my window,But the endless nights where sleep feels like death—A quiet, frozen corpse.You chose to hurt me,And I chose to stay silent, to stay small.You broke my heart into too many pieces,Shards s..

The Dark Rainbows of Manipur

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo RihmoManipur, is it you,You sound so pained.Let them help you,Give them your hand.Eat this fruit,From the tree of liberty.Tell the truth,For the love of humanity.Make your pain,Your inspiration and strength.Tell me while you can,One..

The Power of Poppy - 63

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy the flower is a kind of flowerA flower kind to all kindsA flower kind to bureaucrats and technocratsA flower kind to politicians and CSOsA kind of a flower unkind to mankind...

My name is Manipur

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo RihmoFirst they came for my neighboursRoasted, burnt, bleedingNow they tell the storyAnd it birthed tigers and lionsThen they came for meMaimed, gagged, forced me nakedMade me change habits and tongueTook my children to fight their ..

Manipur- II

Rajiv IrungbamFrom above you look so peaceful.Look at yourself, don't you look just beautiful.But down below I can hear your scream.With so much tension, anger and fearful dreams.You invisible fortress walls!that run between the valley and the hills.Built..

Time Waits for None

Tourangbam JeniferNone can stop,Incessantly it goes,With a rhythm , tick -tock , tick -tock.Neither goes backNor waits for none.It flies byBlending day and night,Months and years.Make haste to act in time,Trail the tempoOf tick -tock, tick -tock,Before it..

The Power of Poppy - 62

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy has a penchant forTurning paddy fieldsInto killing fieldsFields where men women and childrenWere/are kidnapped and killed mercilessly...

The Power of Poppy - 58

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy plants a poser 'Is there a single soul in this landThat cannot be corrupted I shall make an offer He/She can't refuse '...

Dread Life

Tourangbam Jenifer No more of serenity and harmony , No more of brotherhood,No more love for the human race.A lot has changed and elapsed Like a massive cyclone, raze the whole ball of waxNumerous innocent lives slayed inhumanly Terror reached a peak, Sou..

The Hidden Jewel: Legacy of Land Unseen

Laishram Malemnganba Meitei Dear sons and daughters, come and seekThe word that whispers, the place we dream,An essence felt but veiled, unseen—Until its name unfolds, agleam,A beauty woven in words, serene.Do we know what that truly is?Now comes th..

Seeking Patterns

Depiya ThoudamOnce again, I got lost, as usual,A soul bound to an old mind,One that has seen the world,Through many seasons and stormsYet, still so naïve in wisdom.I knew all along, for sureChaos of this world knows no bound,Still, this restless mind..

Magnificent Tradition

Tourangbam JeniferAll souls have a unique heritage,Divine custom, belief and ceremony.Gracefully mesmerizing one’s feelingsNothing can compare either itsCharms and delicacy.Rituals bequeathed over generationsBereft of its essenceOne’s selfhood..

The Power of Poppy - 56

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy is foreign to 'self respect ' and 'dignity'Stranger to 'integrity ' and 'honesty 'Hostile to 'co-existence 'Akin to 'betrayal ' and 'deception'Carries a 'web of deceit '...

Hold a Funeral

Chongtham Ronikumar Singh After your life Who knows?How will it be?I am not able To bury you Lasting it forever My mind is In darkness , being unable To carry on this task Instead of Committing suicides Thou should be taken precious...

The Power of Poppy - 55

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy has multiple facesA face that plays 'victim card' twenty four sevenA face that loves 'sunflower' mostA face that is allergic to mirrorA face aka 'brazen face '...

My Beloved

Laishram Malemnganba MeiteiThe way you feel, the way you speak,Awakens love, tender yet unique.You make me feel as if I’m yours,In this embrace, my spirit soars.Guilt entwines, a playful tease,Yet am I wrong to seek such ease?A precious gift, lord b..

Battle Against Poverty

Tourangbam JeniferYet it’s not the end.Amidst the struggle to upskillTo feed one and all.Endeavouring to nurtureThe requisite of homeNonetheless, striving hardTo blend in with societyDreamed with hopeAnd ponderedEradicating poverty whollyStruggling ..