On the occasion of the Valentine’s Day, we bring to you a mini-anthology of six poems from India and Mauritius, showing many colours of love. Lily ponders about what love is in the refrain of her three stanzas, in her poem, The Thing called Love. Shail talks of a traveller in a train, among indifferent people. She felt sad and distraught, till she saw a streak of light, love in squalor. Her soul cleanses, as she what true love is, in the poem, Feeling Blessed on Valentine’s Day.
The third poem, Valentine Blues, by Mauritius-based poet, Anoucheka, talks of the sensuousness of love and its loss. Dr. Chandra Prakash’s poem, Roses for Valentine, celebrates love. Love on the Beach by Alok, explores the sensuous and erotic love along with , Sweet Valentine’s Day, by Vatsala, a Mauritius-based poet. We close the mini-anthology with a sensitive poem, with an ode to Valentine’s Day with love from Molly. She points out how love has been celebrated by humanity in arts and literature, down the ages and its continuum to this day.
Here are verses on love, by six Different Truths Poets, as part of the Special Feature on Valentine’s Day, exclusively in Different Truths.
~ Arindam Roy, Editor & Anumita Chatterjee Roy, Co-editor.
#1. The Thing called Love
Fresh juice of the passion fruit Simmering in the incense of divinity Enamelled with gems of worth Isn’t this the thing called love? Arching your back to peep Across the fences of discord Standing on lifelong tiptoe Isn’t this the thing called love? What Radha felt for Krishna And Sohni for her Mahiwal That mystic halo of light Isn’t this the thing called love? Fresh juice of the passion fruit
Lily Swarn
#2. Feeling Blessed on Valentine’s Day
She sat lonely inside the crowded box of indifferent people as the train trudged on unmindful of her depressing reflections. Locked amidst raging thoughts and roaring emotions she felt disconnected with the world. But, wasn’t it Valentine’s Day? Wasn’t she supposed to feel joyous or, was it just another ordinary day hyped up to make the lonely sad, the forlorn distressed, the friendless hapless? Amidst the plethora of stormy sentiments she witnessed a far greater struggle as she saw a malnourished, unclean girl begging for a hungry bite from the less unfortunate feeding the cast away food to a bony structure of a dying soul – a relative, a mother, sister maybe. Flies already making home in a body yet to give up the ghost while the child still showered love to an obviously hopeless case. Who was less loved? Who less blessed? Who more distraught? St. Valentine would know it better. Suddenly, clouds cleared, thunder made way to a pleasant breeze that touched the lonely traveller’s face making her feel treasured, cherished by the law of love! Happy Blessed Day to You. May You Always feel Loved!
Shail Raghuvanshi
#3. Valentine Blues
In the deep abyss of my heart Lies, in a molten pit, a life as it could have been If the winds of luck had blown my way If the arrows of Cupid had struck according to my bidding If my birth stars had been favourably inclined If my muse had not had other plans for me! In there, lies a landscape Bordered on all sides by a rainbow cloud A landscape which is home to me and my sweetheart A landscape shaped and sculpted to suit the beats of my heart! In the deep abyss of my heart I swirl to the beats of romance Pure and exotic Innocent and reciprocal I swirl in the arms of my beloved I swirl as I wish to, wildly at times Sensually at others I swirl, caring not to see if I am graceful or not I swirl only to the pulses of desires my beloved sends to me I swirl and smile and laugh For living as such is great Living as such is lovely But such remains enclosed in the deep abyss of my heart The abyss monster wakes up and roars when the love season shows up Armed with the sword of my muse I subtly and easily put it to sleep once more, for, Life never did promise that it will give to me All that I sought from it!
Anoucheka Gangabissoon
#4. Roses for Valentine
Gift a rose to your Valentine Rid off worries, dance and dine. Rosy rose for lips divine Blushing hue on her face shines. Yellow rose for warmth of love In its warmth lives lovely dove. In it lies love’s treasure trove It brings blessings from above. In it blooms the lovely spring All the sweet memories bring. Purple lush with luxurious life Get rid off all struggle and strife. With white roses live in peace Free from mind’s all caprice. And within love lotus blooms With sweet cadence mind zooms.
Dr. Chandra Prakash Sharma
#5. Love on the Beach
On the silver sandy beach, At shy beautiful dawn, I peep, Wreathing my hands Upon your smooth shoulders, Into the deep ocean of your eyes, Filled with the elixir of love. My sportive and eager fingers Grope, With high emotion of love, Into your dark curly hair That spreads The heady perfume To intoxicate my sense. The blush of your velvety cheeks, When my trembling lips Rest on them, Bestows warmth Upon the cold musical wind. Huge waves of the sea Will bring The message of our undisturbed love Up to the horizon With their eternal motions.
Alok Mishra
#6. Sweet Valentine’s Day
From Love’s womb we’ve been born, Its heart is our true abode, Wisely for centuries it has sustained human sub-conscience In poems In paintings, In songs or other forms of Arts, Love has always been the pillar, the backbone, the undying echo Today is Love’s Day – Valentine’s Day, Red roses Satin hearts Soft teddy bears Chocolate boxes Candlelit dinners Sweet memories smile elegantly in the air It’s a unique day to make promises of eternal love, to propose the beloved, to kiss and cuddle passionately O Human Race! On this sweet Valentine’s Day, Let’s flow with the rhythm of love, Let’s join in Let’s celebrate!
Vatsala Radhakeesoon
#7. Valentine’s Day.
when my heart
grows tender
with thoughts
of you,
the valentine
feel
precipitates...
you my valentines
who made
my life green...
though
out of sight
you all
not out of
my mind...
how my
heart throbbed
those days
in thrilled
anticipatation
of a glimpse,
that fond
look, care
that made me
feel special...
how I trotted
with a sprint
on my legs,
the wild
mountain roe...
your rainbows
beckoning..
hah!
how times fleet
leaving behind
lasting memories
of many a
rendezvous...
no, you are
not gone...
you still
light up
the mundane
its montonous
repeats..
love you all dears
be it
the friend,
with fond
concern,
the avid reader
with admiration,
or the one
who left unsaid
more than
the said...
those batting
eye lids
the quivering
lips...
this
not to make
you jealous
my life long
valentine,
sorry,
no pretences
between us...
despite
all the crankiness
you and I
throw at each
in these
twilight years
of our lives
aren't we like
the supporting
staff for each
emotions growing
deeper in
shared joys
and sorrows ?
the mountains,
valleys
we traversed
through misty
terrains,
where shadows
grew longer
as we walked....
yes, Valentine
is the feel
when the
sweet sorrow
seeps in
the pain of
too much
of tendernessMolly Joselph
Visuals by Different Truths and picture design by Anumita
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