The Happy Beggar

Dancing, prancing, jumping high
Spied I once a poor guy,
A beggar without arms was he
"What is it that gives him glee?
Why so happy unlike me?"
Struck by shame was I then,
For I was a rich and blessed man,
Whop moped and grumbled all day long,
And hated laughter, hated songs,
But here was one unfortunate
Who did not grumble over his fate,
Walked I near, respectfully,
And said, "Good man, oh please tell me
The secret of your jollity.
Then I could advocate it too.
He stared at me, a reddish hue
Was on his face, and anger too.
"You blasted fool!" he hissed in rage.
The rest is not fit for this page.
I fled at once. It dawned on me.
He had not been dancing you see.
Probably, quite suddenly
His *** began to be itchy.

- Nina Alahakoon

Captain Dyke

Captain Dyke, he was the master
Of the vessels upon the water.
With a laugh of pride, he would say,
As he guided a ship on its way,
"All these ships belong to me,
I am the Master of the sea!"
And all would bow low at his feet,
Asking for help or something to eat.

Now he's old, and no more master,
Of the vessels upon the water,
Sadly, with a sigh he says,
Thinking of long gone better days,
"No more ships belong to me,
I'm no Master of the sea."
And all who once bowed at his feet,
Turn away at his hour of need.

- Nina Alahakoon (16/01/2004)

The Skeleton

Once I saw a skeleton,
placed by a temple,
placed there so respectfully
to inspire wonder
in all those who looked at it.

And I wondered, who was he?
So unlucky a man with everything
about him gone forever,
only his unnamed bones
still standing.

But now I know
that the time will come
when I too will be
an unknown skeleton,
and if I'm as lucky as this man
I will be saved from oblivion,
with something of me living on
to awe others years hence
as he had done
to me.

- Nina Alahakoon (07/04/04)

The Dead Butterfly

The butterfly with gauzy wings,
Flitted on from flower to flower,
Dancing to the bird's singing,
Waving in the soft breeze coming.
She rested on a piece of wood,
Near to where I watching, stood.

I saw the beauty that she was,
The rainbow coloured wings she had,
As she supped on nectar sweet,
In harmony with everything.
And I stood watching, watching.
The loveliest thing I had ever seen.

If she were to fly away,
I would never see her like again.
But so fragile a thing as she,
How could I always keep with me?
perhaps some other summer day
One like her would come my way.

Even as I musing watched,
A villain grabbed her little wings.
Watching as she kept struggling.
"Stop! Stop!" I cried out loud.
But he was not listening.
Picking up a long, long pin.
He committed the greatest sin,
As he pricked her beating heart,
And ripped her life from her frame apart.

He held the gay thing that she was,
Now unmoving, a lifeless corpse,
To be pinned down on a board
Kept with other butterflies,
For the sake of human eyes.

I stared in horror at his palm,
I was so shocked, he was so calm.
Finding joy in what he had done,
How could he? Oh, how could he?!
This base wretch who looked just like me!

- Nina Alahakoon (2003)

Eight Lines

I am told
to be bold
and to write a poem or so.
So I write
on paper white
eight lines and no more.
now I am done
so I'll be gone.

- Nilusha Alahakoon (2003)

Cuddles

The last time I was late to rise,
She came to see me, lovely eyes,
So big and pretty, brown and round,
Without even a single sound,
She curled up on the rug she'd found.

If lunch is late, she'd let me know,
She'd start peeping at the door,
But once she's fed, she still wants more,
And though I scold her, she won't go,
But looks bemused and gives her paw.

Others see her as a brute,
But to me she's oh, so cute,
She runs up to me to play,
And seems to know just what I say,
To me, she's perfect every way.

- Nadisha Alahakoon (2009)

She Swore Her Love...

She swore her love and faithfulness,
To him she would be true.
She bade him go quick on his way,
To well his work to do.
And said, 'When you come back to me,
I will be here for you.'

On hearing this his joy was full,
and smiling he did say
'My darling know I love thee so
and tho' I go away
my heart and mind will be with thee
each and every day.'

And so he leaves upon the sea
more fortune for to gain;
with picture sweet of his true love
as luck to near remain;
with hopes to be richer than rich
when he comes back again.

But like the turning of the tide,
or like the changing wind,
so his good luck soon turned to ill,
furiously against him.
With blood and sweat he tried hard, yet
he lost everything.

With beggared thoughts and empty soul,
his heart began to yearn
to leave all shame and misery
and speedily return
to his true love - the greatest prize
that he could ever earn.

With hopeful thoughts and singing soul
he rushed on eagerly
to meet his love, to hear her voice,
to forget misery;
But, alas! Their home is locked and barred,
he finds it quite empty.

He searched around with frantic mind;
with fearful thoughts was he.
Had she been stolen away from him,
or ill somewhere, maybe?
'Nay, nay! She's with the handsome count,
with the handsome count is she.

'She heard of your misfortunes, sir;
thought she 'twould take thee long
to make up for your losses dear
and richly come back home.
So wedded she the wealthy count;
- to sunny isles they've gone!'

- Nina Alahakoon (2003)