Poetry

Jan Arendtsz photo

By

Goutam Karmakar

Caged

Fate, chance & the bar; I am caged

For the fight have I become aged?

While the cage takes the central role

I stand far away from my goal.

While the world produces aching noise

my cage makes a pact with my voice.

Being caged I can’t see the blue sky

and my life wants to bid me good-bye.

How will I appreciate thy beauty

when I am caged by untold duty?

Chances of survival seem very less

but only your voice can do it I guess.

Being caged I am now a motionless tree,

Will you have the power to set me free?

A close enmity between my hands and neck

gives darkness and even myself I can’t shake.

Where are you in time of my sore need,

when I am offered neither death nor deed.

Being caged I am unable to stop my cry

For my liberation who will make a try?

My soul wants to break that unseen gate,

Being caged I can’t fight against my fate.

But the fight is going to start very soon

to embrace my only lonely lovely moon.

In Search Of Light

She is the victim of chance and fate

but she has neither cried nor shed tears.

She is placed in between hate and hate

only to fight bravely all these years.

She is tired of the smoke and noise

for those overshadow her lustrous eyes.

She wants to give her choice a voice

for the search is not only for some rice.

She fell to pieces not only to search peace

but also to realize that she can’t run to hide.

She throttles a life of luxury and ease

and hopes to discover life’s brighter side.

She starts her journey towards light

knowing that hope will make her strong.

She knows her demands are quite right

and God’s guidance will lead her long.

She understands that it is not too late

to begin the fight for destroying the foul.

She is the owner of her choice and fate

but she has an unconquerable soul.

She is stuck in between gain and pain

and starts tracing the light of her race

for there will be a sunny day after the rain

and He gives the promise to take her case.

Previously she has a dark gloomy sight

But she knows she must stand or fall.

She knows that light comes after night

and God is with herself to answer her call.

Memories Of A Prisoner

Memories of a prisoner can’t be good

for the cell offers him a dolorous mood.

Anguished, for fear and agony they sell

and he thinks when he will be out on bail.

Wounded his memories only pretend to heal

A hellish life and he loses the ability to feel.

Leaving the family once became so tough

Now their presence can’t make him laugh.

Has anyone supported him taking a banner?

His memories can’t recall it in a subtle manner.

Nurturing the good times by placing in a line

his memories imprison him telling you are mine.

Living somewhere in between pain and tear

his memories are now seems impossible to bear.

Being thwarted they become heavy in this cell

and lighten up by burning themselves in this hell.

Eyes are surrendered and heart becomes dry

For several years his memories forget to cry.

Promises are unfulfilled given to kids and wife

Duties are left undone to those who give life.

With Sin and guilt memories full of sorrow

want light, freedom and happiness to borrow.

Being protected by walls his memories lose power

to pray before Him for a stainless blissful shower.

Goutam Karmakar

Goutam Karmakar is currently working as a PhD Research Scholar at the Department of Humanities and Social Science, National Institute of Technology Durgapur (NITD), India. His articles, research papers and poems have been published in many International Journals. He has contributed papers in many edited books on Indian English Literature. He has taken interviews of many notable Indian poets writing in English. His poems have been published in many poetry anthologies. He seeks interest in Indian English Literature specially poetry, Postmodern and Postcolonial literature, gender studies, queer theory, ecocritical studies, Dalit literature, folklore and culture studies. He can reached at [email protected]