FEAR

To avoid nagging
he gulps down pegs and pretends
every thing's normal:
keeping the mouth shut, hiding
whiskeyed breath and meditating

--R.K.Singh

EMPTINESS

Emptiness haunts
with mind in the gutter
poetry unsafe

--R.K.Singh

TOAD

an aged toad
awaiting sunrise--
damp grass

R.K.Singh

Her gaze

Her gaze
stirs the soul--
clay in void

--R.K.Singh

FLIGHT

sitting quiet
husband and wife
three long hours

--R.K.Singh

Vars Crystal

verandahs
unvisited for days--
Vars Crystal

--R.K.Singh

STAINS

water leakage
scrubbing black brown deposits
new tenants

--R.K.Singh

SLEEP DISORDER

Hearing him talk dung
she doubts his integrity
and curses him for
emitting lava from mouth:
I regret stomach upset

--R.K.SINGH

NO REVELATIONS

Widening cracks leaking roofs
choked drains in the courtyard
water logging and myriad
such small things make rains a pain

there's no romance in rainbow
I can't shape colours of morning
morning shapes my colour

I'm the first victim of my view-s
that shape my head each day
realities and yoga conspire

drinks and pills deride from clothesline
flowers and trees speak in grey
compost of years oozes no wisdom

whatever the poetry it stinks
idols on the beasts and cattle
overload the carriage
I can't deliver the burden

prostrate and worship
touch the feet foolishness
sitting on the ground
in the dust degrade

it's long fog with blurred sight
virtually blind no seer
no revelations


--R.K.Singh

IMAGE

Decomposing in
the PC's memory
a frozen image
they try to trace logging in
the lady of charity

--R.K.Singh

IN COZY ILLUSIONS

Before the ant-eaten roots

yield to storm and the roof cracks

I must find a new shelter

to escape the full collapse:




the facade of specious house

and dead wood midst dust and green

have popped up myths of ages

academics recycle




holding gods in the hand

in cozy illusions

perpetuate newer

games of convenience



--R.K.SINGH

FISHING

With henna hue
the ascetic's matted hair
and net of words
fish innocent women
at the holy Ganges

--R.K.SINGH

WORSHIPPER

With scarf on bare back
plucking hibiscus in sun
Kali worshipper

--R.K.SINGH

GROPING

Fingers grope
taste of whisky--
moist lips

--R.K.Singh

MIDNIGHT CRY

No use abusing
or cursing anyone when
restless and breathless
I cry to God to help me
for a while let me sleep

sexless meditate
in the darkest of hours
negotiate peace
with self and rest even if
I exist in my sufferings

--R.K.SINGH

PULSATILLA

Flower beds
purple pulsatilla
winter's end
--R.K.SINGH

THREAT

We chase myths in self-made Amazon
fish turtles that change colour in new waters

we create landscape of nightmares and wade through
anacondas that threaten our confidence

lost in the jungles of our own making
we beat about the thorny grasses now

look for the twin flames for convenience
cloud judgment and reality for control

challenge the Republic and divide
the defence that could never be


--R.K.SINGH

REPUBLIC DAY

Wrapped in fog
one more Republic Day--
Gandhi's statue


--R.K.SINGH

UGANDA

TWO HAIKU


1.

Piercing her daughter's ears
to save from sacrifice
for prosperity



2.

Feeding spirits with
limbs of uncircumsised boys
a Ugandan witch



--R.K.SINGH

EMPTY SHELLS

Walking along the beach
they collect empty shells
that fascinate senses
in the salty air

feel the life now no more
but argue about the sex
of a conch ignoring
the fishermen's song

--R.K.SINGH

IN the OPEN
A Reflective poem
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