20 April 2010

Collection of poems

     

 Hole in the wall

Mama had a problem
Which is of financial
Took up the phone to make the call
London or New York should I call
Isn’t London cheaper to call?
Asked the old woman herself
As she believes to know western life
And remembers how money is pulled from the hole
The hole deep in the wall
She still recalls
Putting the cards
Hiding fingers
Typing numbers
How could they put money in the wall
For every passing individual
Mom is thinking about the hole
And is now making the London call
Hello my son
How is your life?
How are the people around
The buses, the trains
And the one that goes underground
Is that supernatural or man made
Mom continued asking questions
When did they build those places
Where were we then in those times
She had questions with no answers
The young man who was worried
Asked his mom why she had called
Mom was so quick to remember
To ask her son what to send her
I need only some money son
Which I should get very soon
The son answered politely
Telling mama there was no money
Explaining the slow down in economy
That made mama so furious
As she knows there is a hole so generous.
Hole in the wall so generous.
So generous for bye passers.

          MY MATES

On a bright afternoon in North London, I was in a tube to the centre.
Hurried to reach Victoria so as not to miss the coach; for the trip to Cardiff.
The guy next had an issue; an issue with which he was obsessed.
He then asked a question; mate what time is the match
Mate, it is the match of the day, he continued; as I looked a bit confused,
It is Arsenal versus Tottenham; The North London derby.
I think you are an Arsenal fun, he continued.
Of course I am an arsenal fun; though I didn't tell him that.
I don’t know why I kept so quite.
I was just listening; listening to what the gentleman had to say
I am for the Gunners, he added; as he prepared to get off; by the Finsbury park station.
He said to me see you later.
Showing me with his hand; that he was going to inject.
Some heat into the blood; in terms of a pint.
I gave him a warm good bye; for his being friendly.
Yet had to think about him; his dedication and freedom
Of thought and expression.
The Cardiff coach was ready; to take its passengers on board.
It was unusually full.
Do you mind my sitting next to you
I politely said to a guy who I think is a Welsh.
He gave me way to the seat by the window.
As I sat next to him and started reading a book
Which was written in Amharic; which is my tongue language,
Where are you from mate if you don’t mind, said the gentleman next.
I am originally from Ethiopia, I replied;
Oh gosh! Have you got rugby in Ethiopia, he asked.
I have no idea was my answer; as I had no clue whatsoever.
What Rugby is after all; it is running that we love.
There was a very good match last week, he continued.
The blues with Gloucester; which was the best match of the year.
In the millennium stadium; especially the try from John
That helped the blues have the dominance in the game.
Did you know that the match; was also international, he continued
I have never watched Rugby mate, I replied.
While at the same time showing interest; to know a little bit about it.
I asked some naive questions; as I didn't know what Rugby meant.
And the guy replied and made sure that I understood what he said.
I appreciated his effort to help me understand.
But at the same time I learnt that he was also in love
In love with Rugby to the bit
That gentleman must be around; around in the city.
As it is time for six nations; six nations in rugby.
The gentleman is in love; in love with rugby.

        My shyness

Let me question
Why I am shy
Is it nature
Religion or culture
Background or gender
Are there reasons
Why I am shy
Or is it man made
Or confidence,
Experience, exposure
Education or what is it
The reason for my being shy
I want to know
Why I am shy
As I feel shy
To remember that I am shy
And promise not to be shy
Yet it remains only promise
As I start to feel shy
As soon as I go into life
And have something in common
So what is it that makes me shy
Can I ask it again
As I am afraid of my shyness
As someone born to feel shy.

     My pillow, my bank

What did I hear the other day
Banks run short of money
Financial institutions go burst
The same is true for insurance
Do I worry about it
Or should I worry for my pillow
Which is my bank for what I have!
My pillow my bank
My bank is my pillow.

     Rush and run

Everybody runs,
Run, run, run.
Nobody says hi,
Or expects same.
They still run,
Rush and run,
Push and pass,
Run on stairs,
On escalators,
In the streets.
Some run down,
Others run up.
Some run in,
Others run out,
Some run east,
While others west.
Still others run
South or north
They all run,
Rush and run
The beauty of rush hours,
The beauty of busyness.
Run, run, run
Always run

What do they mean?

The stranger is to travel,
To move around in big city.
With no experience how to make it,
Taken by his deep thoughts.
How do I go to this place,
Train or bus should I use,
What do they mean when they say zones,
Are there cities within city,
Locating places and zones,
Knowing the price,
Buying the card
The Oyster,
From the machine or the office.
Checking the line,
The platform,
Boarding the tube,
Getting off the tube or changing,
Listening to the announcements
And reading same,
This is station X,
Change for line A,
The announcements come once again,
Attention please, attention please,
This is a security announcement.
The stranger is awakened,
His ears stand like nothing
As he gets more vigilant and worried.
There goes the announcement again,
Please keep you luggage with you,
And report unattended items,
And suspicious behaviour,
He recalls the announcements.
What do they mean when they say that,
Poses the question to himself.
As he gets more confused,
And contemplates to get off,
Yet he recalls the announcement,
Suspicious behaviour, as he recalls,
What do they mean when they say that,
The stranger looks around,
As he is more confused,
But no body looks that scared,
Different or Worried,
Is it only him who is scared,
Most are busy, busy reading,
Newspaper, book, magazine.
There come announcements once again,
This is station Y,
What a relief to reach at Y
He finally gets relived,
And awakened from his thoughts,
Before he even went to ask,
As to whether he should get off,
Or what do they mean when they say that,
Not knowing that the man next
Is a stranger Like himself.

Going for the unknown

I still remember
That very moment in my life
When I decided the unknown
Over the little known
Booking a place in a plane
Leaving behind the family
And close ones at home; and
Deciding to be part of the unknown
With optimistic view of the day
Having some hope
Which are yet to be dashed.
Leaving the home airport was frustrating
As it involved a lot of risk
I remember those prayers
Which I had done time and again
A prayer to escape home
A payer to keep the hungry lions silent
The journey was full of thoughts
Thoughts from childhood to present age
Thoughts that took me back and forth in time
Thought where hope and despair
Had to face one-another.
The arrival wasn’t bad
Though I didn’t know
Where I would finally end up
As destination was unknown
Life has now changed forever
For worse or better.
The airport was as huge as usual
Embracing people of all colour
Some looked familiar
While others confused
The way to the city wasn't easy
Using the underground trains
To a place not booked before
It is all keeping going
Going, going, going. going.
Following instincts and thoughts
How tough is it to prefer the unknown
Over the little known
To keep life on hold
On hold for unknown time and future
On hold for reasons little known.

Written in May 2009.

The talk is change


Obama talks change,
So does McCain,
Brown and Cameron.
Politicians talk,
So do students,
So too teachers,
So do others.
So what is wrong,
If those who seek sanctuary.
Talk change,
And voice their concerns,
On the change they all dream.
That allows work
And safeguards education,
That uses experience
and knowledge
And restores confidence
That goes for family union
And avoids family breakdowns
That encourages full participation
And helps to come out of misery
Many hoped for
Spoke about for years
This should come at last
For justice to prevail
For life to be normal
For that sends message for hard work
So as to pay back to the host
And discharge self responsibly
And get recognition and dignity,
That is the change we all dream.

Written in October 2008.

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