ROVING MIND
(A Collection of Prose-Poetry)
Binoculars Keep Constant Watch
“Roving Mind: Binoculars Keep Constant Watch,” by Aluta Nite. ISBN 978-1-62137-372-8 (Softcover) 978-1-62137-373-5 (eBook)
Published 2013 by Virtualbookworm.com Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 9949, College Station, TX 77842, US. ã2013, Aluta Nite. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Aluta Nite.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
INTRODUCTION
This is the author’s seventh collection of prose-poetry cum lyrics and just as in the previous ones, it contains poems on everyday life in the environments that she lives in from time to time.
This book deals with real issues that make it very contemporary and relevant to any reader. She lives among people and interacts with people and issues and these are her subjects and topics.
The poems are on free verse form because she refuses to be restricted to the traditional forms with measured stanzas and so forth. If a rhyme comes in naturally, then fine, but she does not force it. She writes what she feels, hears, experiences and witnesses. Some of the poems cover mighty weighty issues as is usual with her work on many genres but she believes that she needs to do it and put it out there for those who would resonate with it.
Just like she does not restrict herself on format, she does not restrict herself on topics either. She simply writes what hits her mind and nags her to pick a pen and write because if she doesn’t, the idea won’t go away and it will keep on itching her even at night.
She is not influenced by other poets or tries to write like so and so. She simply writes what comes to her mind and expresses it in the best way possible. Some of her poems come to her mind in lyrical form and she keeps them that way.
Readers who like stories and the honesty that goes with them will like her work. Her work is bold.
DEDICATED TO
ALL POETRY LOVERS OF THE WORLD
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO
STEF, JEN AND JON
CONTENTS
MISTER CLEAN
IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME
WORDS
AND HAPPY EVER AFTER
CREATIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY
FATAL SIGNALS
GAINING HEIGHT
NATURE WAS IN CONTROL
THERE’VE TO BE A STOP
“HE IS OURS”
TREACHERY
GIVE AND TAKE
STOP THE CYCLES
DESPERATION
THE ROUTE TO DISUNITY
GREED
I KNOW I HAVE IT
NOTES SCRAWLED ANYWHERE
DANGERS LEFT IN THE WEBS
PRINCESS KATHLEEN
FRIEND CUM FOE
ONE DAY, THEY’LL BE TOGETHER
THE SPIRITUAL LEADER
DEAF EARS, BLOCKED MINDS
UN-NURTURING
NETHERLANDS
AIRPORT DRAMAS
I MAY BE WHATEVER
DANGEROUS PRIDE
LACK OF SELF CONTROL
GOING WITH IT
SAYING NEVER
LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER
CRUELTY IN THE BOTTLE
GIFT OF EXPERIENCE
RAISING NORMA
PUSHING TOO HARD HURTS
ABUSE IN THE TRAIN
HE LIED TO THOSE WHO TRUSTED HIM
USING A CHILD TO CON OTHERS
BLACK WOLVES
IMMORALITY THRO’ VISIBLE LANGUAGE
INEXPERIENCED DRIVER
PLEASURES OF THE EYE
LIVING IN SUSPENCE
GOLDEN JUBILEE
DEATH HAS NO MERCY
BELOVED TEACHER
FAREWELL
EMPTINESS AND GLOOM
THE TAILING CLASS
BITTER END
THUMPING
INSATIABLE TASTE BUDS
DISASTERS
SENIOR MOMENTS
FRIGHTENED
A CHILD’S DILEMMA
CRUELTY
THOSE OLDER GIRLS!
JOY
SOCIETAL IMBALANCES
PERSONAL FREEDDOM
LIBERATED
CONSIDER OTHERS
PAYCHECK
AS WE SEE IT
HE HAD HER HEART, BUT- - - - -
A CHANCE FOR THE LIMELIGHT
GOOD BYE LOVE
BROWNING OF THE WORLD
INADEQUATE LAWS
IN PRAISE OF MOMS
WANT IT ALL
REMINDER
CONTINUOUS INSPIRATION
LITERACY AND IGNORANCE
COLOR BAR
THE LONG AWAITED LETTER
MIND RECOVERY PORT
POOR TREE PLANTING
CALAMITIES
TECHNOLOGY AND MAN
ICE RAIN
MISTER CLEAN
He loved reality and jingoism
And lived simply and fulfilled,
Yet he knew not his sworn foes
Baying for his blood every day
For his forthrightness
Spelt doom to their acts.
With his immaculate intellect
And outstanding performance,
He outshone colleagues around him
And his beacon glittered like a star
Even in the distant world.
To top it all,
He shunned graft
And refused induction into it;
Walking in the light made more sense
Than sweeping murk under the carpet.
Despite being a leader,
Propaganda existed not in his world.
He served his people and the nation well
And this caused hemorrhage elsewhere.
As time went by,
Animosity turned into animal-ism
And before long, he was betrayed
In the most foul manner.
His end was stunningly ugly
Because even lesser creatures
Leave room for recognition
After their territorial fight.
His cadaver was set ablaze, dismantled
And left for the insatiable vultures,
But the tissue-less and organ-less cadaver
Deterred the ravenous vultures
Pain rang throughout the land
Like a distress call to war,
And the owners of the heinous act
Never faced the law.
Instead, his friends and kinsfolk
Mysteriously kicked the bucket
One by one and in the end,
There was no one to bear witness.
IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME
Nations whose subjects are tired of regimes
Can’t continue politically, economically and socially;
Tear jacking scenes emerge, as movements of people form
And put selves on autopilot, as national moments are created.
These be time bombs that must be diffused carefully and peacefully.
Something has to give way.
People can only be fooled for so long
For era of serfdom is no longer with us.
Soon they gather courage in popular fury
And seethe in the most unexpected way.
It’s like a pot full of water that can’t take any more supply.
Something has to stop.
However long it takes, people will suffer
While quietly and slowly building up steam
To step up their demands and anger.
It’s like a river receiving too much rain and having
A blotted trunk that has to burst its banks.
Somethin
g has to come to a halt.
Autocracy and holding on to power indefinitely
Have never been good ideas since days of yore.
Despots show contentment and forget jobs at hand
While, seeing no wrong doing or suffering around them.
People’s cries are ignored, as they are taken for granted.
Something has to make about-turn.
It’s no wonder that many countries are in turmoil
For permanency in power and aristocracy
Are a cancer that offenders take only as headaches.
The shift can be swift; sparked on trivially and turn fluid
And too little too late can’t please or quench them.
Sycophants are removed from reality as people power looks for dignity.
Mass demonstrations are signs of civil disobedience
And leaderships losing grips.
These are revolutions and tipping points are nigh.
For the writing is on the wall as they are unstoppable.
Stop hanging on like a hornet’s nest to the ceiling.
Unleashing force on them is detrimental to image.
What weapons do they have against organized retaliation!
They have slogans, placards and at times resort to sling action
Due to provocation, but unity is their might
For their courses are similar and loyalty to each other calls.
Looting is not condonable, but some bow to it, due to dire need.
Stop maiming and killing them in their organized chaos.
Women and children are visibly in the crowds;
Work has stopped and the effects are obvious;
Commodities are in short supply and dear and it hurts.
Blocking communication and curtailing transportation,
Will not thrash those striving for the set goals.
Stop acting bigger than the nations for the nations are forever.
Seeds of revolts echo round, as winds of change blow.
Making haste to undo years of injustices
And bringing little cosmetic reforms is inadequate
For camouflage has no room here, it’s like affinity fraud,
Yet the up-risers are against the systems.
So, do they have to use their blood to rewrite history!
WORDS
Once discovered,
There’re no better toys
Nor pass time hobbies
Like playing with words.
Everything revolves around words
Even where there’s assumption of nothing
Something will emerge through words.
Clarity comes from where I can’t tell you;
I guess it’s the passion that goes a notch higher.
Just like an artist sees details on still life
Or moving objects that ordinary eyes fathom not.
Like a fish eating bird flying up in the air
Sees a meal in water
Which naked eyes by the sea, spot not
And before long, a smooth swoop is made into water
And the beak clasps the meal and off goes the bird.
Like an inventor with genius imagination
While using his practical eye, mind, hand and caution
And so are ants and their skyscrapers and highways;
Bees and their geometrically angled hives.
Words are plenty, descriptive and illuminating;
Words are kind, comforting and healing;
Words are just, correcting and teaching;
Words are sure, performing and evaluating;
Words are verbs, adverbs, adjectives and nouns.
Words are:
Pencils and paints to artists,
Keenness to birds,
Imagination to inventors,
Soil to ants,
Wax to bees
And ideas to writers.
Writers daydream in words
Hence perennial note jotting
Even at dead of night
In case ideas escape.
AND HAPPY EVER AFTER
Making
peace
with
self,
is
the
best
thing
ever,
for
only
then
can
death
come,
so
serenely.
CREATIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY
Artistry is universal
But avenues lack elsewhere.
An illiterate mother, from the mountains
Weaves tapestry sold to celebrities,
Yet she knows no instructions.
A fearless warrior from bush land
Overpowers a lion with a spear,
Yet he simply uses instinct.
A young shepherd from the desert
Plays a flute in unfathomable way,
Yet he knows no conservatory.
Paints master pieces using his mouth,
Yet he knows no art school.
A beautiful girl from a lowly background
Dances lightly like a colorful butterfly,
Yet she knows no choreography.
A handsome soldier from war
Sings like larks under moonlight,
Yet he trains with no maestro.
Agile pupils in a remote reserve school
Act plays like those rehearsed in Hollywood
Yet they know no theater school
Opportunities beckon in the first world
While they lack in most distant worlds
With little care to harness and conserve.
Talents lie hidden
And many never surface,
Yet given slightest chances
Outcomes are beyond comprehension.
FATAL SIGNALS
How can you love and hate at the same time
As your bundles of joy are turned into obsolescence!
And isn’t she your better half?
Does it have to end this way
Yet the pain isn’t theirs alone!
And isn’t it yours too?
Don’t they deserve to live as nature intended
Yours isn’t the only bag of misery!
And isn’t it hard to forgive you?
Don’t you remember the beginning
when it was smiles and laughter
and now, why the bitter pill!
Let butterflies use their wings
for you had your opportunity
and give creation plans a chance.
GAINING HEIGHT
In the name of height
Platforms and wedges were invented.
In the name of height
Stilettos are worn from yester years.
In the name of height
Posture lessons are taught every day.
In the name of height
Designer gurus dictate certain fashions.
But odd of them all, is in parts of the Orient
Where height is taken a notch higher:
Lengthening legs an inch to one and a half
Just below the knees, through surgery.
Height seekers disappear in thin air
From work, relatives and friends for about a year
While in hiding, to undergo the ordeal and recuperate.
Special hospitals so created to handle this
Under patients’ requested secrecy
While incurring heavy fees upfront as
Savings for dear future get blown into this.
Besides beauty, some jobs demand certain heights,
Yet traits of humanity generally
Produce not desired and admired heights.
NATURE WAS IN CONTROL
A sound like falling rain or a plane landing was heard,
But it was too late to es
cape to safer and higher grounds.
Landscapes got littered like a hurricane had hit the coastline.
Roads got eroded and grooved like earth movers had been at work.
Cars flipped over like empty matchboxes in the breeze.
Machinery landed on each other like conveyor belts doing deliveries.
Trains full of hundreds of passengers disappeared in thin air.
Bungalows tumbled down like carton boxes during a slight wind.
Storey houses sailed by like they turned into ships.
Ferries ended up on roads like planes on the runways.
Yachts flew to rooftops like birds looking for viewing spots.
Boats climbed onto bridges like they acquired wheels.
Barriers built to precision tumbled down like plastic toys.
Water swept people and handed them to cold statistics,
As it washed all memories and everything topsy-turvy
With cities left decorated with colors and shapes of mosaic
While towns got erased like Sodom and Gomorrah,
Yet survivors found several days after in unsuspected places.
Tsunami is water and after the tsunami
There was no water.
The nuclear plants built to sustain humanity
Turned against humanity.
Tsunami transcended ethnicity and religion.
Time was not necessary for the above to happen.
What man built in centuries got undone in minutes.
When will man learn to stop competing with nature!
Nature gave birth and breathed life in man,