They climbed on sketchy ladders towards God,
with winch and pulley hoisted hewn rock into heaven,
inhabited the sky with hammers,
defied gravity,
deified stone,
took up God's house to meet him,
and came down to their suppers
and small beer,
every night slept, lay with their smelly wives,
quarrelled and cuffed the children,
......
You taught me Papa,
that the way to heaven is paved with lack and tears
that they who wear finery will never see the street of Gold.
You taught me that blessings come from God,
You said I only need to commit to prayer.
......
‘Higher,’ the swaying beech leaves beckon, whispering drunken enticements into
the humid morning air.
‘Come higher. Come to us!
Leave earth behind,
weight behind
yourself behind.
Come higher!’
......
Religion is just a kindergarten
It’s just a preparatory school
It prepares us for formal education
So that we don’t grow up to be a fool
Spirituality is graduation
University that follows school
It helps us become graduates
So that we can jump into the world pool
......
As the sun lay low
And the moon rose high
You danced with the devil with your skirts held high
A crimson scarf round your white throat
And a gleam in your eye
You waltzed with the dark one
Until the sun began its astral ascent
Suddenly regretting the damning steps
Began to lament
......
‘Higher,’ the swaying beech leaves beckon, whispering drunken enticements into
the humid morning air.
‘Come higher. Come to us!
Leave earth behind,
weight behind
yourself behind.
Come higher!’
......
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Even when in a famished state I hunt,
In pastures green and lush with abundance,
He renews my spry and exuberance.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In gardens of drought He will fortune plant.
He leads to quiet pools of fresh water
from which I draw strength and endless laughter.
......
My poem.....
You think you kill me with your hateness. You hate murderously; in blood, in humanity.
Your poison has no place in our society.
The venom that seeps from your mouth have always been heard but will not pierce through and kill me.
Is it faith or fear? Is it your submission to a deity or one to your community?
Are you listening to the valid speech of god or the invalid words of your closest enemies......those opportunists, tearing your daughters. Those women with compassion, resilience, love and ambition.
......
Ujjal Mandal,India
Man has no religion
Like water of rain and ocean,
Enjoy the life you've been given
Like the blooming moon
In the dark night.
O dear, life is twenty steps away
Of tomb, or funeral pyre.
Why people are busy to protect
......
My God, My God
Why have you forsaken me?
You said that you would never leave me,
So, why have you left?
You died for me,
So that I may be free;
You set a rainbow up in the sky,
This is your great promise!
......