Poetry: Mariam Roshan Zachariah

Mariam Roshan Zachariah

1. Hope Mariam Roshan Zachariah

Just because the sun blazed

and the moon cried into the lake -

Just because the wolf howled

and the pack relayed it around -

Just because the trees misunderstood

and bloomed too early, some too late -

Just because the grass still grew …

did it mean no one cared?

Just because some were bad

Breaking the piano in the square-

Just because orphans were many

all yearning love and safety -

Just because politicians lied,

And holy men confabulated-

Just because social media prowled -

Did it mean that all is bad?

I am not of this world,

I am not of that world,

Yet I can be good

And all that is bad –

I am the earth

Hurting with insult -

I am the otherworld

Sensing their remorse –

I am the sum of everything -

always hoping, ever improving…

***

2. Tropical tantrum

A gentle wind, harbinger of more,

ruffles the white powdery shore,

only eyes peer out of crab holes.

A tremble starts in the grove -

among the mango trees and the palms, 

just off the shore.

In a blink, primitive listening translates,

as dry leaves roll out of the way--

Lizards disappear and birds roost.

Suddenly from nowhere inky clouds swoop,

stooping low trying to touch their toes,

pointing down into the choppy water.

Dramatic as Vivaldi’s music, a high pitched

whine tornadoes from beyond the trees -

the wind inducts the young mango tree,

to play castanets on the tiled roofs below.

But higher up, coconut fronds like hula dancers,

change the musical tempo to a crescendo.

On cue, lightning and thunder gatecrash,

sheets of rain in the rearguard crash, 

forgetting delicate steps, in silvery crowns -

Alive with static, is the waiting ground, 

the hair on leaves, standing on end

with mortals cowering everywhere.

Louder and louder the party gets, 

this diabolic revelry of the spinning djinns,

vandalizing waterfront resorts and my home, 

standing like Spartans, in stoic rows…

who expected this shrieking gale, 

to seek revenge for climate change?

At day break, the punishing darkness fades,

to delicate gerua, the colour of love, 

painting the apologetic sky clear 

while men forgive the storm-

for nature’s misdeeds cannot fathom,

the height a dreamer’s deeds will rise.

***

3. Escape

The day is icicle cold,

black waterfall

silently flows.

I tiptoe into 

the fairy ring,

silently ready.

Whispering time

and the cobwebby lichen,

hold their breath.

Vision blurs - 

dancing demons

fling me out.

Thudding back

free of nightmares

back to life.

***

4. Ground zero

Unthinking bird

floating on the wind

in the war zone -

On the ground

even deep underground

nightmares rule -

Cannot cross

even mice or men

only keening winds –

Will sadness forbid

clear sky and chirping birds,

stop the sun and moon?

Will it matter

if all perish –

without exception?

Will darkness birth

a good world

a second chance…

***

Bio: Dr. Mariam Roshan Zachariah has been an ophthalmologist – turned poet from Cochin, India. “Stitch together and sing again – a Rhapsody” (2023) is her debut collection of poetry. Her poems have been included in the anthology – “What else is rain” (2024). She also writes Haiku.

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Setu, December 2024