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...



If man is dust

those who go through the plain

are men



- Apparition, Octavio Paz, trans. Eliot Weinberger



...

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

diamond street












diamond street



1.

walk slow in diamond street,
walk slow
with a gun,

here every turn
hides a war,
and every corner
shudders
in
fear and orgasm

die or die.

2.

walk slow in diamond street,
wait for houses
to appear,

look in through the windows,
into the rooms,
dark at first,
then slowly coming to light,

revealing faces from 
the sea

observe the faces burn,
the lips, the eyes,
the teeth,
and other signs of horror or peace.

3.

walk slow in diamond street,
where every step 
makes you lonelier

knock on doors
that choose you,
by name or by birthmark

ask for freedom
at every door,

though they now
sell it no more.

don't turn away yet,

they may show you other antiques,
preserved upstairs,
a long time in the attic.



.4.

sometimes, a mirror
sparkling
with the light of ancient women,

sometimes, a white diary
of alphabets
from the future

sometimes, on the wall, 
a fairytale that bleeds

don't turn away,
leave only when asked to.

5.

leave with memories
of lust and defeat,

leave with silver wounds
on your feet,

find the lion
find the beat

walk once more
on diamond street


6.

walk slow in diamond street,

walk slow
with a telescope
to look back at ruins,

and moon capsules in your belt
to heal
the hours
of fire and trauma.

And then,
as adventure ends 
for the day,

as diamond street
curls 
in bed,

look deep into the eyes 
of the lion,

then feel the silence around you
for a whole minute

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tock tick tock tick

In the end, speak.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh! That was long! Had it printed out as my home connection is not working.
Nice makeover :)

Deeptesh said...

Allusive and thought-evoking.What stood out for me was the lyrical rhyming in jerks at places.The portrait of 'diamond street' appears surreal yet it is very true metaphorically.
Many stanzas begin with the same line which is an interesting reinforcing repetition.And some parts towards the end reflect the beginning.....is that a subtle wordplay with your 'mirror' in the poem?
Do check out my poem too.It's the second post on my blog.

Shahwar Kibria said...

hmm...I open my blog...and see your blog updated...whoa...pleasant surprise!

and now for your poem...all I can say is that THIS POEM, to me is grandiosely more sonorous than all your works I have leafed through...!(not making comparisons though)

this one not only hits it hard, but nails and batters the light out!

guess you're pretty close to diamond street...milestone shows naught!

"Brilliante!"

p.s.-kudos for the technical and the "cerebral" re-ordering!

Sujoy Bhattacharjee said...

Your blog is molting. Refreshing change.
Loved the sinful tour of Diamond Street.

Jadis said...

this was more like a song tan a poem... and its feel spoke more than its language did...

beautfiul would be an understatement... :)

Saima Afreen said...

Awesome! Beautiful! I am still wandering in that diamond street. The dazzling dust gives it surreal appeal...

Deeptesh said...

This opened up a whole new vista on re-reading.A question for you-is the ending "in the end speak", on a dual level,similar to "people won't think much of you these days unless you start making comments.....so what are you waiting for?"

Rye.. said...

Blog ta ki shundor laagchhe dekhte! esp the guitar.. Aha!
This one is enticing and capturing! I loved it!~

silverwhitewinter said...

this blog owner cud do with a hug

Deeptesh said...

Pardon me for commenting on this so many times....This makes the reader move forward slowly almost with a bated breath.I love the way you hold up the suspense as the reader expects something at 'every turn' but doesn't 'turn back' hoping to find something.The adventure winds up 'as Diamond Street 'curls in bed'.

The atmosphere somewhat reminded me of 'Hotel California'.You are truly a great surrealist!!

Wendy Naisa said...

Love the diversity expressed in this piece. Especially liked the bit about the things in the attic and the concept that the mirror could capture 'the light of ancient women'.

Nicely done!
-Andy Sewina