poemIn the Midst of

Hardship

In the midst of hardship

At dawn they returned homeTheir soaky clothes tornAnd approached the stoveTheir limbs marked by scratchesTheir legs full of wounds But on their brownsThere was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passedThey had to brave the horrendous floodIn the water all the timeBetween bloated carcassesAnd tiny chips of tree barksDesperately looking for their son’sAlbino buffalo that was never found

They were born admidst hardshipAnd grew up without a sign or a complaintNow they are in the kicthen, makingJokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

STANZA 1

At dawn they returned homeTheir soaky clothes tornAnd approached the stoveTheir limbs marked by scratchesTheir legs full of woundsBut on their browsThere was not a sign of despair

LITERAL MEANING

At dawn, the villagers return home, their

clothes, soaked and torn. They move towards the stove for warmth. Their

hands and legs are covered with scratches and bruises. In spite of their situation, they do

not seem to be in despair.

STANZA 2

The whole day and night just passed They had to brave the horrendous floodIn the water all the timeBetween bloated carcassesAnd tiny chips of tree barksDesperately looking for their son’sAlbino buffalo that was never found

LITERAL MEANING

The rains have long and heavy. There is a terrible flood. The waters are so strong and fierce that they have swept down

trees and dead animals. The loss of life is evident.

The husband and wife brave the flood to look for their son’s albino

buffalo, his prized possession. But they

never find it.

STANZA 3

They were born amidst hardshipAnd grew up without a sign or a complaintNow they are in the kitchen, making Jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

LITERAL MEANING

The family has always lived in poverty and has learnt to cope with it.

Thus, the people do not complain and have learnt

to look at the brighter side of life. As they warm themselves, they joke and laugh and roll cigarette leaves so that they can

relax, have a smoke and enjoy each other’s

company,

poemHe Had Such Quiet

Eyes

He Had Such Quiet Eyes

He had such quiet eyesShe did not realise They were two pools of liesLayered with thinnest iceTo her, those quiet eyesWere breathing desolate sighsImploring her to be niceAnd to render him paradise

If only she’d been wiseAnd had listened to the adviceNever to compromise With pleasure-seeking guysShe’d be free “the hows and whys”

Now here’s a bit of adviceBe sure that nice really means niceThen you’ll never be losing at diceThough you may lose your heart once or twice

STANZA 1

He had such quiet eyesShe did not realiseThey were two pools of liesLayered with thinnest iceTo her, those quiet eyesWere breathing desolate sighsImploring her to be niceAnd to render him paradise

LITERAL MEANING

The man portrays himself to be a quiet, sincere

person who is unhappy in life and he pretends to be in need of a person who will give him happiness. The woman, of course,

does not realise his insincerity and

deception. She is taken up by his appearance of

seeming calmness despite his sadness. She

feels sorry for him

STANZA 2

If only she’d been wiseAnd had listened to the adviceNever to compromiseWith pleasure-seeking guysShe’d be free from “the hows and why”

LITERAL MEANING

‘If’ is a strong word because it implies a

feeling of regret. After all, if the woman had only listened to good advice, she would not have had to undergo the present

heartache.Also, it is a stern warning (‘never to compromise’)

to the woman and all women too, that it is

unwise to get emotionally close to ‘pleasure-

seeking’ men who just want a good time. Never compromise. If she had been careful she would not have to suffer now,

emotionally. They realtionship has now

ended.

STANZA 3

Now here’s a bit of adviceBe sure that nice really means niceThen you’ll never be losing at diceThough you may lose your heard once or twice

LITERAL MEANING

Here the speaker is speaking to the woman

who was wronged and to the reader. One must understand the TRUE

meaning of ‘nice.’Love is a gamble, like

playing dice (metaphor). You may lose or you may

win.