A Sombre Mood

When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled. - Swahili Saying

Last week I posted a mixture of what was buzzing in my mind and environment. Today’s contribution is an attempt to catch up on five’ day’s writing. Trying to make sense of the events of the past few days and at the same time we cannot stop what we do… the piece at the end is an update on the garden… or maybe it is better to say lack of action in the garden. The blues is playing and I cannot shake the sombre mood that the images of war brings upon me... Tell me what you see?

Shaken Up

Shaken up
We go to war
Everywhere
On the big screen
Paid-for-view TV
Victory
In the face of economic disparity
Peace
No easy feat
Control
Never
At the end of the line

Shaken up
West versus East
Bible over Koran
Priest versus Imam
Millions lost
All in the same systems bound
In war
The only place of equality
Below ground
Buried at sea
More than six feet deep

Shaken up
Wondering… searching
No universal ideal belief
Pacifists don’t wage war
Peace by proxy celebrated
Inner conflict a luxury elevated to unbridled heights
Karma
No light release
The middle way
Keeping millions from bondage
Toiling in relative
Serenity

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011

Namaste

Namaste
I bow to you
No indication of subjugation
Merely
An open admission
Respect
Humbled
Equal
I am only me
Through you
Our souls connect
True

I bow to you
Namaste
Touching
Right hand to left
Close to my chest
Our connections
In time and space
Elected
The middle way
Easier not to stray
Spiritually
Light
Effortless praying

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011

As-salaamu 'Alaykum

As-salaamu 'Alaykum
Peace unto you
Death
Celebrated
Avenged
An eye for an eye
No turning the other cheek
War
No place for the mild and weak
Collateral damage
Even the innocent
Sadly
Implicated

And upon you be peace
Wa alaikum assalaam
Life
Consecrated
Liberated
The blameless vindicated
In war mongering
We are all implicated
Global systems
Rooted
Complicated
Another Workers Day dripping in blood
All hands contaminated

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011

One Weekend

On Friday
We sonorously congregate
Celebrating
A royal Union
Well planned
Millions
Glued to the little screen
A fairytale spectacle
Complete with fancy hats
Charities winning
Another wedding
Expected to be a lifetime’s innings

On Sunday
We spontaneously assemble
Celebrating
A battle victory
Well planned
Millions
Glued to the big screen
A dark tale spectacle
Complete with victory banners
Many white house’s winning
I cannot shake this feeling
Expected the start of many more battles beginning

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011

Simple Times No More

We no longer
Live in simple times
Our universe
Complicated
In war and peace
We are all implicated
A plain existence
Perhaps
Only in the lives of ‘cut off’ villagers
Less intricate

We have never
In simple times lived
Even the lives of those
Without twitter and face-book affected
Fewer and fewer
Untouched
Their battles for life
Just as fierce
All our lives
By faraway encounters pierced
Salt and rice
Negatively effected
In war and peace
All humanity related

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011

Delayed Reactions

In expectation
I wait
To plant the garden
One growing season in the north
Yet, experience tells me to delay
In all eagerness I hesitate
The bite of the last spring frost
Sensitive seeds
Will not take

In anticipation
I watch
Snow from the north
Falling slowly
Two seasons of winter in the north
Tells me
Its effects will not remain
Spring we venerate
Budding trees gives me
A visual break

In anticipation
I wish
No layers of snow will be staying
Like at the beginning of winter
Happiness pervades
I played it safe
Not planting last week
Was a good choice
Direct sowing
Might just give me a crop
Herbs and vegetables
Soon growing

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, May 2, 2011