Poetry

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 ..

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..