Blue Skies black to night
the devil and God must fight
Silver streaks of light
man runs and hides in pure fright
Rain washes away the blight

i. Tanka Version

like musical notes
true essence of a poem
is sensed with eyes closed

we don't need to touch the buds
just inhale their mood in bloom

.............................................................
II. Sunku Version

need not
touch a bud
to feel her charm

behold
the innate
virgin beauty

inhale
her vibrant
poem in bloom

I am afraid mother, why do they want to kill us.
Why do they take our land, herd us like animals.
Yesterday we were playing ball in the rubble
of all those bombed out building, when we heard
a familiar sound. Everyone started running, but
Yaseem did not know and no one dared go back
for him with explosions going off all around.

I hear you at night crying in your room, and
I also begin to cry. I miss him too.

The lion, you might be
Surprised to learn,
Sleeps as much as the sloth

Perhaps it is the merciless sun
Though one is quick as lightening
And fills its few waking hours
With the chase
Rather than the dangle

Cats, koalas, panda bears
Even beatles
And the bats who eat them
The great majority of animals
Could be considered lazy

But not like people
Who for "lack" or "leisure"
Or “spiritual wickedness”
Embrace the couch
Instead of reaching
For the reins

Millions have come and gone away
none has ever come back till this day
then why amass wealth
and leave it all, who for
can the wisest one really say

Yes
You will be remembered by those
who enjoy the wealth you left behind
but how will you ever know
since while living foolish you were also

O the wisest one you alone have a brain
Come over we will catch the next train
and roam about till the wealth does sustain
kick me off, far off. when nothing does remain

Fighting a war to bring about our peace
Liquidating lives for our existence
Detaining prisoners for our release
Destroying their world for our sure presence

Divinely intended and intentioned
We seek ownership over our birthright
Our viewpoint is rational and reasoned
We are the vanguard of historic right

you have touched me in my life
more than you might've known
but I've felt your joy as well as strife
when you walked those paths alone

one never might praise the sun
though we walk in its light white
for me you have been that one
who burns to make lives bright

your words aren't sugar coated lies
they're a mix of stones and candies
you slap me when I need a slap
clap only when I deserve a clap

We are like
Cardboard boxes
That can fold
In upon themselves
A million times

We are bodies
Made up of
60 percent
Water

(Almost
80 percent
In our brains)

We are like
The solar system —
Mostly empty
Space

This should comfort
And consternate us

All of that
Room
For God knows
What

Sometimes
We are the most
Supported
By that
Which is the most
Maleable

Contained in that
Which is
Practically
Limitless

I
Perhaps tears are seeds
The soul sows in the field
And if you succeed,
Harvest the wonders they yield.

II
Are these tears in my eyes
Or a pair of waterfalls?
Maybe a star has died
And what I see in the sky
Are its cascade of silver lights.

III
I think tears are pearls
Born from our hearts,
And our hearts, an ocean
Of sunken ships
With their treasures
Forever lost.

I had arrived
Blue as the little bag,
we used on washing days
An oxygen tent my home
they stared at me so forlorn.

Fighter I was,
the months passed by,
you would see me scream
to catch my Mothers Eye
a bouncing bundle,

Number seven was this joy
Memories from those days
as dreams were shed
Babies can’t recall,
what’s done or said.