Poetry

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 ..

Weeks of Flower's Bloom

Simli HenamA little flower blooms.The world's smile lasts for weeks.Neither light nor darkIs etemal.She played with the blowing windMaking friends with seasonsEven though,'The death' wins...

Discrimination

Chongtham Ronikumar SinghRunning roundLike a bansheeSinging the bluesIce forgetsTo cementWill it be fine on it?When somethingIs to be doneThe wind blows rains indiscriminatelyThirsty waterBecomes mannerless icesIt cannot be drunkTo cure this heartMade of ..

The Power of Poppy - 54

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy A peculiar magnet That Poppy is Attracts the worst lotCorrupts the best lotAnd overrides the State...

A Song Whispers In My Heart

Tourangbam JeniferI reminisce day and night,I reminisce months and years,I will reminisce forever,And long for you,Till my last gasp.Like sweet smell of flowers,Memories linger and encircle me.You showed me your eternal loveYou gave me a strength of a lio..

Unclasp the Fear

Tourangbam JeniferMysterious maze with myriad trailsLeads to numerous paths,Long unknown mystery journeyWith pitfalls, hurdles and bliss.Overwhelmed with sorrows,Overwhelmed with grief,Overwhelmed with joy,Overwhelmed with anger.Emotions flare up,With the..

The Power of Poppy - 53

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyA 'crop of controversy'Poppy controls all cropsSubjugates all known cropsPoppy projects people as 'pawns'In the game of thrones...

Being Dumb

Chongtham Ronikumar SinghThe idleness I force to be well In cold winter's morning Sits on this tendency In my ideas Horrifying these further I find the newest day In the aftermath of darkness When it is below the horizon...

The Last Kangjei of Kanglei Sagol

Nishikanta SagolsemIn 33 AD, an epochal year of great renown,Nongda ascended the throne, and Kanglei’s civilization shone.Ougree’s melodies resonated, and his people yearned,For the beauty of Leishna, elegance and serenity that she shone,Nongd..

Not to be Unlucky

Chongtham Ronikumar Singh  Climbing stairs Without souls Is painless Mindful conscience Does not die When moving everywhere So precarious Dwelling on seconds mostly Without electricity to light up Insanity is easy To take for granted As illness nowad..

The Power of Poppy - 52

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy A perpetual liar That Poppy is Keeps on lying For far too long And never feels bad about it...

Unity Triumph

Tourangbam Jenifer                  Years have passed Humanity and benevolence no more.Deep down ,hid the secrets But ,blaze up astonishingly.And, turned against native p..

The Power of Poppy - 51

    Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy and illusion are Siamese twins Wherever Poppy goes/growsIllusion follows  Whatever Poppy dictates Illusion obeys ...

Search is Over !

N Banita Devi (IRS)Went all ups and down the HillsSearching for you my LordLost in the junglesIn Deep woodsIn deep bottoms of oceanUp in the mighty sky But lo !!Where have I found you ?My Lord !!Right in my heatIn my mindIn my soulIn my very conscien..

The Power of Poppy - 50

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy caresses and cuddles cultivation'illegal' cultivation of opium poppy Essential for producing 'heroin'Poppy harbours for the return ofThe dreaded 'number 4'...

Oh, My Motherland Manipur

Rahul KhangembamOh, my motherland Manipur,We’re living in pain,Sixteen months so far,My motherland is burning!Warmongers are deceiving the World,And shirker monarchs maltreat his peoples,Your children are trying to halt aerial attacks,But the atroci..

The Power of Poppy - 49

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy is that flower in a millionThat shakes/shackles Lutyens' DelhiPoppy is that 'beautiful' flowerThat brought down Babupara on its kneesNever to stand up again...

Laughing Buddha

Naorem BanitaThe Vishnu Bhagavathi,The Bajrangbali in singing modeThe white marble GaneshaThe Brass Chhattisgarh tribal GaneshaThe two peacocksAll covered with dust and dirtI need to wash themGive them the much needed bathSlashed water on themSwish and sw..

A warrior not mounted on a steed

Laishram Malemnganba MeiteiNot I, who wears the skin of animals.Not I, who holds a sword in the right handAnd a spear in the left.Not I, who fastens a red belt at the waist,Nor I, who tightens the battle headdress.Even though, a warrior am I—Of me,O..

Entailed

Shahnaz IslamBit by bitI unmasked youUnravelling the filthConcealed in love’s rubyRed like a chronic ailmentI have been afflictedFor ages and agesPicking away at the scabsStumbling unknowinglyHelpess uncalled for,A passionate affairInto  bounti..

The Power of Poppy - 47

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy has an 'Authority' over The AuthorityAuthority not 'legal' Authority not 'traditional'Authority not 'charismatic'But 'Authority' called 'black economy '..

Pena’s Lament

Nishikanta SagolsemIn Kanglei’s heart, an euphony resides,Cheijing – The majestic ‘strument, our pride.Its melodious tune, a declining pride?Once royal furtherance, it did adore,Yakairol to Chingkheirol, incomplete with thee.Now forgotte..

The Power of Poppy - 46

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy has a perceptionSee the world through/with moneyPaint polity by/with moneyPut politicians inside the palmMake politicians dance to the Poppy tunes...

Beyond the Curve of a Smile

Laishram Malemnganba MeiteiDivine providence bestows individualized blessings,An inescapable presence, ever with us.The enchanting smile, an ornament of our souls.The tears streaming down our faces:Could it be because we fail to embellish our own beauty?I..

The Essence of Archaic Kanglei

Nishikanta SagolsemChronology in the bygone days, lingers like a mazeArchaic sobs ,  in an oblivion state.Those who can’t decipher , I call thy visionless.Those who can’t decode , I call thy espoused.Kanglei! This antique ‘lon’..

My Father

Laishram Malemnganba MeiteiWhat role does fate ask you to play,To guide me through each passing day?With steady hands, you lead the way,Through life’s storms and trials, you stay.In times of sorrow, when I’m lost,And hope feels distant, almost..

The Power of Poppy - 45

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy turns man upside downThere is no such thing as civilityThere is no such thing as loyaltyThere is no such thing as integrityIn the dictionary of Poppy...

Dear Endangered !

Nishikanta SagolsemO dear ! Dear jeopardy,In grief, I call you this.O ear! Dear ear.This ear has heard ‘the exquisite ’ of your land.The land- O land ! The enchanted land,Where upon her eyes douched and dazzled with splendour,Her hair lanced b..

The Power of Poppy - 44

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy makes rational man irrational Logical illogical Humane inhumane Poppy transforms gratefulness into ungratefulnessEmpathy into apathy...

The Power of Poppy - 43

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy hates anything and everything 'legal'In love with anything and everything 'illegal'Be it cultivation immigrants and trade 'Legal is illegal ' and 'illegal legal ' Thus spake Poppy the flowe..

The Dream

Mayanglambam Shital ChanuMy throat parched, fear gripped tight,My head spun wildly, I couldn't control,I couldn't move, not even an inch,I called for my friends, in a desperate pinch.They brought me water, but a pit lay between,An impassable chasm, a daun..

The Power of Poppy - 42

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy is stranger to ‘Industrial Economy’ Poppy knows no 'Agro-Economy'Poppy is allergic to 'Mixed-Economy'Poppy lures stakeholder with quick returns Poppy propels GDP through 'Opiate..

The Power of Poppy - 41

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy believes in the power of money Poppy money that runs into billions Billions that bought media houses Media houses that tell the world What they have been paid to tell ...

The Power of Poppy - 40

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy obeys not The law of Nature But the man-made lawThe contorted law of the land That makes Poppy the most sought after crop...

The Power of Poppy - 39

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Beware too of Poppy's 'Long MarchFrom Combodia to Chin State Chittagong to ChurachandpurConspicuous by the blazing trail of Poppy seeds Seeds instrumental to deforestation...

The Power of Poppy - 38

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy The hills are blue and lovely The mole -hills and mountains are green and luscious But Poppy has plans to unleash And miles to spread across the hills And miles to spread across the hills...

The Power of Poppy - 37

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy has an idea An idea to balkanize a historically evolved State An idea to manufacture a non-existent history An illusionary idea of an illusionary homeland An idea whose time shall never com..

The Power of Poppy - 36

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy is dangerousWhen used as a political weaponAs bargaining chip to blackmailPoppy is most lethalWhen used as WMD ...

Bloodstained Masquerade

Dr Asem Tomba MeeteiFaraway wars, a whispered plight,In Hardy’s verse, Tennyson’s might,A phantom charge, a life undone,War’s cruel ballet, on screen began.But then, the stage turned all too real,My homeland burned, a wound that won̵..

The Power of Poppy - 35

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy has changed the oft-quoted phrase“Politics makes strange bed-fellows”To “Poppy makes strange bed-fellows”Oh! the power of Poppy gone politicalTwins they are Poppy and ..

Stop harming nature

Rahul KhangembamOh, human living in the digital worldTrying to be digital with all kinds of digital gadgets,But laziness and ignorance lead to destruction.It is easy to discuss global warming by wearing mask in AC rooms.It is easy to cut down trees and sa..

The Power of Poppy - 34

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy is for the powerful Poppy is against the powerless Poppy has perfected the artOf kissing the backsides of authorityOf kowtowing to the 'Big Brother '...

The Power of Poppy - 32

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy There is no full stop in the hills Where Poppy reigns supreme Only a comma, a semi-colon,a pause In the sectoral part of the hills Where Poppy defies the State Authority...