The ping of bullets
lulled the tinkle of Champagne
flutes
Took over the lilt of violin
the booming guns
The red wine oozed
out of burgundy lips
To mahogany ceiling
the caviar flung
chanel No.5 reeked
of blood smoke
Stunk of burnt flesh
Pour Homme
The half written poem
Dried in fingers
The song in throat
got strangled
Breath in breath
Whirring hearts
Abrupt silence..
Paris blasphemy!
* This poem is dedicated to peace loving people all
over the world, and is my tribute to innocent victims of the atrocities of
extremists.
the words give a jolt to our conscience urging us to raise our voice against such wrong paths..."The half written poem / Dried in fingers / The song in throat / got strangled" my favorite part...
ReplyDeleteThank you Sumana:) Glad you liked.
Deletepicture drawn in words.....as if seen from close, as if you lived the moment.....!
ReplyDeleteGreat observation..I have been through similar situations in other parts of the world, and know that the agony and trauma are the same..
DeleteThank you Sunaina for liking my poem:)
This is a powerful tribute. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked, MMT. Thank you!
Delete"Blasphemy" is a forbidding word aptly applied to the images you capture. To blaspheme perfume and wine and music and poetry ... or in other places that have never heard of these things.... "Breath in breath / whirring hearts." Your poem gripped my heart.
ReplyDeleteExactly! You got it right, Susan:)
DeleteThank you for your interpretation and appreciation:)
I thought of extremists in response to this prompt as well - how differently "martyrdom" is viewed today compared to centuries past. You have expressed this so well. I especially like the half written poem dried in fingers, the song strangled.
ReplyDeleteYes, the concept of martyrdom over the centuries has excessively changed..
DeleteThank you Sherry, for liking those lines...my favorite as well:)
It is so cruel when innocent are killed in name of religion .. HORRIFIC
ReplyDeleteBikram's
True! Thank you Bikram:)
DeleteThings people do in the name of religion!
ReplyDeleteWretched..loathsome!
DeleteThank you Mridula:)
Very poignant!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ravish:)
DeletePains to see the state of the world in the name of religion and freedom. Aptly penned.
ReplyDeletePathetic!
DeleteThank you Shweta:)
This is so beautifully described that I actually saw the attack happening!
ReplyDeleteThank you Hema:) Glad you liked:)
DeleteAs one of the commentators said, you have painted a living picture in these words. So much hatred, so much loathing some people carry in themselves. Simply because others pray to different gods. Or don't pray. But then perhaps things aren't that simple at all. Either way, the whole world is suffering, is in pain because of the terrorism.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beloo:) Glad you liked:)
Delete:(
ReplyDeleteThe half written poem
Dried in fingers
The song in throat
got strangled
:(
DeleteThank you Manisha:)
To convert violence and brutality into poetry is a tough job and you've done a marvellous job. Touching in a creepy way.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom sir:)
DeleteLoved "Touching in a creepy way."
Loved reading it. So, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Aditi:) Glad you liked:)
DeleteWhat a poignant picture you paint with words
ReplyDeleteThank you Suresh:) Glad you liked:)
DeleteWonderful portrayal of that painful moment, Amit ji. It is so beautiful and yes, in a creepy way..
ReplyDeleteA Rat's Nibble
I agree that creepiness was an inevitable feeling in this poem but then it HAD to be there to generate the desired effect.
ReplyDeleteThank you Meera:) Glad you liked:)