a cockroach
a cockroach is approaching tempted, I lift my right foot ready to stamp on it on second thoughts, though, I put my foot back a cockroach has life, hasn't it? and have I the right to cut it short? I don't think I have why not let it roam the room and enjoy its day? then I take a mirror and watch my reflection is God playing the same game? or having the same hesitation? I have no way of knowing nor should I care now that I breathe I look again at my reflection the cockroach is once again approaching yet not a bit now am I tempted to crush it just for the sheer delight of being able to destroy a creature that cannot put up a fight I look again at my reflection and wonder if God smiles in approval or if He frowns, feeling uneasy being so humanly parodied
1988
river
Oh, river, where ripples from the sea meet here is a hand dipped in your water dry twigs and dead leaves that float this hand will hold and later crush Oh, water that flows, that gives life the source of happiness, the well of laughter Oh, water that gives freshness and calmly flowing, takes away all man's yearnings Oh, river, where sunshine hides after a long faithful journey and finds peace in your embrace I sit on your banks, hands clasped and reflect there on your surface the rhythm of my life present and past
1988
life
the whole thing is a setup of nature we are trapped, unable to get out what is to be done? we never bother nor care
1988
flower sellers at roadsides
between happy roars of laughter and mourning drops of tears banknotes dance merrily
1988
Our contemporary stage
the world is a stage he said, centuries before and people still trust him never realizing nor even suspecting that it is now but a junkyard with neither exit nor entrance as we are all deep down unable to act only to breathe in and out polluted air
1991
Contemporary frost
"and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep" frost never a second thought that there is hardly even a mile left to go now distances have suddenly shrunk at the sight of nuclear arms and frost's woods have turned into battlegrounds mined with unbridled greed and wild ambition only a guilty conscience can still see them as lovely, dark and deep
1991
- By Lie Hua
An Ode to mother nature
Oh! So exotic you are Mother Nature! With the rivers, trees and mountains as your graceful features!
The lush forests and the fresh springs full of bounty, The bright sky and the blue sea bathe you in beauty
Oh Mother! You have a heart so generous and loving, yet we are so alien to sharing and giving.
You toil for us endlessly, though we deforest you mercilessly.
As an ideal mother you are full of care, and have always been to us quite fair.
Sadly, you vent your anger through a volcano or a tornado, Little do we understand that it's your grief and you're not our foe.
Oh Mother! this is an ode to your patience and selflessness, which glows like a lamp in the darkness of our selfishness!
-- By L. Sailaja Kumar