These days are difficult times
bidding farewell to the old ones
clothes I’d bought years ago
in impulsive shopping sprees
laying waste below newer ones
collecting stains and smells
as well-aged, handmade cheese
metallic keychains, rusty buttons,
identity symbols of a younger self
school life—a life now long gone
yet bloom afresh, the memories
of squabbles for those collectibles
souvenirs and FLAMES analysis
scribbled texts, empty notebooks
remaining shadows of a shady past
of classes missed—teachers pissed
some faded moments photographed
in dusty shelves surviving in silence
discarded memories are for ages
Category: Unplugged
Maternal instinct
What no parent should ever do
Mrs Tibbins did to her offspring
when still young and tender
its skin moist, palms closed
and beetle eyes full of wonder
the mother left her child alone
wandered away from home
in place of nurturing care
suffering a blow after blow
from the unkind world over
alone, helpless, and smelly it grew
seeking friendships in dirty pubs
scouring meals in garbage cans
and letting time live its course
years later, like mother the child
when was its turn to be a mother
did what no parent should ever do
and cast away its child, letting it go
for who could change the nature
of cats abandoning their kittens?
Despite
Although small and plain
and the neighbour’s prettier
still a flower blooms
Teach me how
How could you, mom?
tell me that all's well
and that Barnie's fine
he's gone to a farm
to care for his babies
that he'll soon return
How could you, mom?
I lay await for weeks
rushing to his kennel
after school each day
seeking Barnie's arrival
only to be disappointed
How could you, mom?
watch me as I continued
with my reckless efforts
in pursuit of happiness
hoping for my Barnie
to come back home to me
How could you, mom?
pacify yourself each night
as I cried myself to sleep
pray, tell how you did it
for my daughter's dog died
and I've sent it to a farm too
Time machine
The people of yore
looked up—for the sun told time
concrete towers now
The Chaos Within 