Dear Readers,
As poets and writers, we choose some words and leave out others. Do we/should we share the burdens of the world, bring out the uglies, speak up for what is right? While opinions vary on this and we go our own ways, follow our own convictions, I think we often find it a struggle to quieten our inner voices. No matter which side we choose to be on (the quiet alleys of ignorance or the loud aisles of cognizance), we cannot look away from our conscience.
I launched a Poetry YouTube Channel for children last week. It’s called Poetry Palooza and anyone interested in reading fun poems with me can join me here.
Today’s poem is written as a response to the prompt on Poetic Adventure. It says,
Write a poem about war. Write about peace. Write about what we can do as poets and writers and what we cannot do. Reflect on what we can do: witness, name, remember, humanize. Explore the tension between the uselessness and the necessity of words in the face of violence. Is it better to focus on the local, our communities, our family than the global issues? Write down your take in a poem, write your own ripple in this face of all this.
What I write comes from a personal space and as I work on poems for the coming episodes of my channel, I continue a scuffle with myself, considering I read for children. Without any more explanations, here is my poem.
POETRY CHANNEL
Her words tumble like Garfield rolling down a hill—tales of a banker rich in gold, a monkey’s journey to adventures untold, an old man lost in forgetfulness. She wears red on screen, the colour of her shame melts into a canvas of glee.
Deep down beneath the whimsy lurk the poems she dare not share—playgrounds turned to dust, frolic to lament.
Adrift in a world apart she cackles a monstrous laugh, muffles war songs, cloaks ugliness by rushing into jest.
The analytics are not the same—muted spectators of carnage outdo her channel’s reach.
bombed-out dreams
beneath
blue skies
See you again, next week!
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A Hundred Quills 
Words may seem frivolous weapons against the deadly explosive ones of war, but they have more power and endurance in the end. Well, done, Sonia.
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hi,
I like your poem.
War is difficult for children to understand, especially if they are in the middle of it. Hidden fears and isolation are hidden within them. They retreat to a place that they hope is safe. It takes years for a child to overcome living in a war zone and I believe that some of them never recover.
Shalom shalom
Sorry, I believe I sent this twice. I didn’t see an acceptance and so I sent it again.
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hi,
I like your poem.
War is difficult for children to understand, especially if they are in the middle of it. Hidden fears and isolation are hidden within them. They retreat to a place that they hope is safe. It takes years for a child to overcome living in a war zone and I believe that some of them never recover.
Shalom shalom
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hi,
I like your poem.
War is difficult for children to understand, especially if they are in the middle of it. Hidden fears and isolation are hidden within them. They retreat to a place that they hope is safe. It takes years for a child to overcome living in a war zone and I believe that some of them never recover.
Shalom shalom
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Life’s challenges make it difficult for creativity to find a voice. What needs to be shared remains unspoken, unheard and lost in despair.
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‘Deep down beneath the whimsy lurk the poems she dare not share—playgrounds turned to dust, frolic to lament.’.. love how you brought in your youtube channel and the things we dare not share together..
—Namratha
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Is this one a haibun? It’s very good. I just checked out your Poetry Palooza teaser. It looks like such fun!!
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Oh! How brilliantly you’ve meshed in your current reality to the reality of the world at large. It’s so seamless and your words ring true with me deeply. The haiku at the end is perfect!
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