Poetry

The Slow Days, The Lost Years

Ranbir LaishramEach day moves slowly—waiting in lines,counting what is missing,missing what was ours.Beyond the hills lie fields we cannot cross.The river runs through memory,its waters once lit with laughter,now only a shimmer we recall.Mornings st..

Happiness of co-existence

Randhir ThiyamEarth — the only livable home we share,yet we auction her breath for comfort and glare.We plant flags on wounds, call them nations,and build our peace on polished negations.We feed the sky with nuclear prayers,and call it science when..

Complete freedom is not absolute

Chongtham RonikumarDo you know the real meaning of complete freedom?It is one's balakanised death ,With no chance of rebirth -A fall into the chaos of carrot and stick ,Where control wears a mask of liberty.Feminism does not merely meanEquality among all..

Butterfly

Echel AchomWings of a butterfly,Flying towards me,Gone in a moment,Almost didn’t noticeA fleeting moment of black and yellowLooking back,And she disappearedAlmost like she never was there...

When the Sea Finds Rest

Dr Ranbir LaishramThe sea sighs,longing for gentle rest—as all storms fadewhen the tide falls low,and the wind hums softlyover sleeping waves.The ocean quiets;peace settles deepin silent blue.So too in life—when voices hush,and media quiets,wh..

Redland’s Republic of Rubble

Randhir ThiyamWho ordered midnight’s claws to crush the past?Redland Rajbari — auctioned off at last.A century’s pride erased in stealthy grace,While power grinned behind a lawyer’s face.The kings once ruled — now clerks deci..

My Fate Is So Dark

Chongtham RonikumarMy fate is so dark,That I can't see it clear -Like a storm with no warning,It draws even near.The air is heavy ,The heat is cruel,And I lack the shirtsTo keep me cool.Through summer 's fire ,I fight alone,With fragile hopesAnd a tired t..

A Letter from Friend

Romeo ThingomMy friend penned the words:“You do all the crazy thingsThat you can't explain.You shoot the moon,You deny the truth,believe in a lie.Everytime you believeYou could really fly.“You feel it deep insideAnd nothing could ever change y..

Dreams

Echel AchomThe moon and the stars stay together,When not there,The entire sky is darkBut when together, the entire night skybursts with light.The  nights with quite humming,The nights which  are just a bit too chillyThe ones where everyone turns..

Where Trust Is Missing

Dr Ranbir LaishramEveryone speaks of trust.Everyone says—trust,Trust alone can heal,Trust alone can bring harmony.Yet trust is missing—Missing among people,Missing between rival groups,Missing within ethnic circles.My mind whispers—If on..

Arjun Vs Karna

Chongtham RonikumarEach soul is born with its own potentialA hidden depth they must unearthTo become truly human .Yet time is short, and resources scarce;Some fall like fragile, forgotten seeds -Unemployed, unheard.In this age of metamodernism ,Where thou..

Taxes, terror, and a Nation's blindfold

Randhir ThiyamIn land once crowned the jewel of the East,Now ruled by taxes, thugs, and twilight deals,Where silence feasts while justice is the beast,And truth lies bound beneath corruptive heels.The GST drains, yet more demands arrive—A shadow tax..

Flowers

Echel AchomLittle flowers bloom in a rowWith the softest colours, yet so boldEach petal whispersA voice yet so low but does not breakUnfolding on days when,The sun shinesBut closed whenIt was long enough out of sight...

Ningol Chakkouba

Romeo ThingomO' Ningol ChakkoubaA great occasion for allOf the coming of any sisterHer gift - a T-shirtWhich I long to wearO' Ningol ChakkoubaShall I wait another year?..

Silent Betrayal

Dr Ranbir LaishramWith pride, with promise,you walked to the House.We called you our own,sworn in, hand on oath.You thought you stood tall—people’s voice, people’s call.But you bowed, you crawled,to the ruler, to the wall.He shut the doo..

My Fate Is So Dark

Chongtham RonikumarMy fate is so dark,That I can't see it clear -Like a storm with no warning,It draws even near.The air is heavy ,The heat is cruel,And I lack the shirtsTo keep me cool.Through summer 's fire ,I fight alone,With fragile hopesAnd a tired t..

The Republic of Pretenders

Maibam RomiyoWith grand intentions, they take the stage,Actors of wisdom, prophets of age.But their scripts are hollow, their promises thin,A circus of power, a play dressed in sin.Impersonating saviors, bold and bright,Yet plotting in shadows when out of..

Friends Forever

Romeo ThingomYou are my friendYou meant a world to meBut something happenedThe day you left meInto the world of lonelinessMy friend, Oh! Beloved oneHow can I forgetThe memories you left behindThe mind is blankBut you filled my mindWith love, laughter and..

Still, We Rise

Dr Ranbir LaishramIgnored by rulers,shunned by neighbors,we fight among the ruins—chaos breathing into order,order trembling in chaos.Still, we rise.Like stars,like lotus afloat on muddy waters,we shine through scars.Still, we rise.Wrapped in a coco..

Emotions Tangled around

Tourangbam JeniferI am drowned in my emotions,I cannot breathe;My mind roams in a dark mazeWhere will I go?What should I do?With teary eyes, I look around longingFor a way out.I took multiple route,But I could not find a way.I wish it was a nightmare.I lo..

Sunlight

Echel AchomBright morning, yellow hueSpreading warmth and happinessBathing u with its glow and shineSun, the ball of fire so farYet so near.Yellow colour, bright but warmStaring too long at it,Could leave you blinded by the dazzling lightAnand staying too..

Dangerous Monk

Chongtham RonikumarWhy doesn't thou do thy homework?For I , at the behest of mine elder brother,Did leave my land - not to earn scolding,But to earn awards ,By not staining my hands in malpractice.I seek no bluff with Lord Yama ,Nor twist the truthOf a br..

Poppy Epilogue

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyWhat if Poppy is not transported/smuggled inIn the land of virgin forestWhat if Poppy is not cultivatedIn the land of rich biodiversity'Unity in diversity' or 'diversity in unity'?..

Birth Right of The Meiteis

Randhir ThiyamWe, the Meiteis, demand—not begOur place in the ST list,The way lungs demand oxygen.Yes, demand your own skies—But don’t clip the wings of our birds.Who are you?Why are you crying into someone else’s cup,As if our tea..

Echoes of a Shrinking World

Dr Ranbir LaishramOnce it came rarely—a shadow of worry,a ripple of chaos,once a month,perhaps once in a year.Now it always comes—every day,every hour,every minute pressing heavyupon the heart.Confusion everywhere,disorder everywhere—in..

The Power of Poppy - 100

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Hallucinogenic Poppy had been hallucinatoryThat the land and people had been conquered Till one dayPoppy encountered village folks with impeccable integrityPoppy won the battle but lost the war...

Run ,Run

Chongtham Ronikumar  Run,run - don't hesitate ,Race ahead to meet your fate.Etched upon a silent screen ,Where time reveals what might have been .In darkest hours, that tale shall play ,A guiding light on a distant day .Who can tell what lies ahead?A..

Truth Remains Truth

Randhir ThiyamKangleipak, cradle of the Meiteis,two thousand years crowned by kings whose blood still breathes in the wind.Ancestral voices still guard these hills and valleys,their footsteps echoing through time’s long corridor.Yet—from the s..

My Friend

Romeo ThingomHow have you been my friend? Oh! My beloved friendJingle bell jingle bellThe messages the telephone ringsWhen the clock strike nine I hear your voice on the lineSearch in your diaryThe number you always carryHow wonder who you areIt's my tele..

Not a Burden

Dr Ranbir LaishramMy loved one placed a walking stick in my hand,a souvenir of her journey,a gift for the years ahead.She laughed: "You may need it one day."I smiled,but inside, a silence opened.For a moment,the ocean of my life rolled back—the step..

Seeds of Silence

Riri“Every time she lies, another seed appears in her mouth.”  She discovered it the first time when she said a small harmless lie, ‘I am fine.’  The words slipped out of her mouth smoothly, but moments later she felt som..

The Power of Poppy - 99

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Oh Poppy dear Poppy Construct your house of cards Build your castle in the air Cry Poppy CryCry for the moon...

A Lovely Morning

Echel AchomStaring out the window,Bright and early in the morning.For there’s so much to look at.The birds are chirping,Children are playing outside.A gentle breeze blows throughChickens let out a loud coo,To let everyone know,It’s a lovely mo..

The Mask !!

Randhir ThiyamOh Mask, you chameleon of democracy!Draped in carnival shades,you repaint your face daily—red at rallies, white in temples,green in the markets,black in the backroom deals.Neither bombs crack you,nor rebukes pierce your hide.Agitations..

A Prayer to the Almighty

Romeo ThingomDowntrodden and outcastInto the shadows of hopeOne day it will be fulfilledAll dreams will come trueTo make my destiny realGod! Provide me peace to comfort meMake me a real personby your miracles...

The Power of Poppy - 98

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy came(to an ancient kingdom)Poppy saw (civilized but complacent people)Poppy met (corrupt and incompetent cronies)Poppy conquered (unscrupulous bureaucrats/politicians)Poppy accomplished 'miss..

What a visit, indeed!

Randhir ThiyamWhat a visit, indeed —Two years four months, too late,And a hundred tragedies deep.After jet-setting through 78 countries,you remembered Manipur —when the trees were ash,the rivers carried grief, and autumn wasn’t just a se..

The Silence, The Pause, The Voice

Dr Ranbir LaishramThe silence of the rulerweighs heavy on the land.The pause—a hollow breath filledwith chaos, uncertainty and fear.Then, a voice rises,pleading for peace,for reconciliation—but the wounds run deep.The broken threadsof ethnic l..

Stupid Uncle - in - Law

Chongtham RonikumarI am arriving at your placeWith a vague heart ,To prove my inner worthiness -A worth translatedInto a thousand tonguesAcross the worldBut not to learn me.I come to plunder ,To beg every kind of wealth ,Even those undeserved.But when he..

A lovely morning

Echel AchomStaring out the window,Bright and early in the morning.For there’s so much to look at.The birds are chirping,Children are playing outside.A gentle breeze blows throughChickens let out a loud coo,To let everyone know,It’s a lovely mo..

OH ! IDP ! IDP !

Randhir ThiyamWho are we?The "refugees" in our own homeland,The "unwanted guests",What is our crime?Breathing in the wrong postcode.Who made us?War—your beloved factory,where leaders mint victims like fresh coins.Where is our home?Behind barbed wire..

Keepers of Kangleipak

Dr Ranbir LaishramOnce, we lived in ease—in comfort, in abundance,unaware of the weight of self-duty.The joint hearths glowed with warmth,the village hands held us steady.Harmony was not gifted,it was woven—through patient years,through wise r..

The Forgotten Throne

Maibam RomiyoUpon the throne of marble cold, he sits,Crowned not by care, but hollowed pride of old.His people hunger, yet he heeds them not,Their voices lost like whispers in the grot.Like Cronus feasting, blind to cries of kin,Or Zeus aloof, who thunder..

The Power of Poppy- 97

Rajendra KshetriNever ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy runs a parallel economy‘Opiate economy]The Power of Poppy- 97Never ever underestimateThe Power of PoppyPoppy runs a parallel economy‘Opiate economy’ that has scant respect f..

Moving away

Echel AchomEverything is packed intoneat brown boxes.The bed is made one last time.Shelves are empty, table cleanSuitcases lined against the wall.It’s time to bidOne last goodbye to the pastOn to a new beginng.To a new home,A new schoolA new place,o..

The Power of Poppy - 91

Rajendra Kshetri Never ever underestimate The Power of Poppy Poppy has a tale to tell An untold story to share An unseen scenario to unfold 'A can of worms 'Kept in the pandora's box...

Whispers of the Emerald Mother

Dr Ranbir Laishram O my beloved children—Jewels of this emerald sphere,I hold you wrapped in verdant silks,Ancient and ever new,From mountain mists to valley's sigh,From every tribe and beating heart,You are the music of my memory.Once I danced in p..

Still, I Call You Home!

Maxstone IromIs Imphal still cold like winter?Oh no, it's not fog, it's eefhul weather.Oh dear Imphal, I miss you so,I admire you and love you, you know.But what has happened to your land?What went wrong, it's hard to understand.Broken by conflicts and en..

Echoes of Life’s Fleeting Journey

Malem ElangbamLife’s fleeting journey, a transient gleam,A path we traverse, with mortal dream,A common destination, for all we roam,Let’s spread love’s radiance, to every home.With gentle kindness, and compassionate heart,Let’s up..

Anew and Bright

Chongtham Ronikumar A beautiful flower has gone to bloom,Anew and bright beyond the gloom,In tunes of light and calm delight ,Still blossoming within her parents' sight.I was mad ,lost in despair,Chasing dreams that weren't there -Unseen wealth in clouds..