Poems by ANNIE GEORGE

Early years in West Bengal. Higher education in Kerala. After teaching in institutions within and outside the country, joined as staff member at the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala. Won laurels for poetry, short story and essay writing during her student days.


 


MIRROR



One look
before the mirror,
the first act
In the morning,
freshening facts,
helping us
face the world,
better.


The ideal friend
to be with.
When thoughts gnaw,
at finding fault
with the other.
Always keeps
a check.


Your best critic-
never under-estimates,
never flatters.
Reflecting-
only facts,

as they were
meant to be.


COSMOPOLITAN CLASSROOM




My cosmopolitan classroom
with its global students
teach me
basic lessons
in peaceful co-existence.



"Your head
bears
the same hair
as mine
coos my Sri Lankan sweetheart;
do you think
the same way
I do?."


"Does your skin
Sense the same way I do?"
My Pakistani fan
wants to know.


"You have
the same eyes
as mine,"
quips my Filipino friend,
"Do you
seethis world
the same way I do?"


Queries
I must
assign myself,
as today's homework.


But then,
impositions
of yesterday,
remain
to be cleared up.


"Spend the summer
with us
at the banks
of the Nile"
invites
my Egyptian sister.


"come to my country
rich with milk and honey,"
pleads
my Iranian admirer
smothering me
with gifts
of the heart.


"Be my guest
at my Arabian household
and gift yourself
a whole new experience
for a lifetime."
promises my local guardian.



I still haven't
finished
my homework.

 

Maybe ,
the reason why
I'm back
at square one.


I never once
dared
enough
to invite
even one of them
here,
home.



BALANCING ACT



Poised
on a tight rope,
Tipping-
neither left
nor right.
Eyes set,
STEADY
on mind
and matter.
Unwavering-
in grit
and goal.
Unperturbed
and cautious

not to graze
strange pastures.
Careful
not to upset
Fortune
the great leveler.
Composed.
Trying hard
not to be thrown off
Wheels of balance.




ANESTHESIA


A peaceful interlude
Between life and death;
A violent movie.
No beggar to bother
Your reverie,
or salesboy to shatter
your noontime nap.

A painful re-birth
in a single life.
A re-awakening call
of your name.

An unconscious regret-

THIS IS NOT ALL

There's more to come.