Poetry

Emerald Home, Fractured Voices

Dr Ranbir LaishramMany voices—soft, angry, silent, many—call this small sky home.Hills remember,rivers remember,feet that came long before fences.Names change,borders shift,but soil still knows our touch.Some say immigrant;Some say ancestor.Yo..

The Homes That Walk With Us

Premananda MangsatabamWe did not leave our homes—our homes were torn away from us.The walls we painted with laughter,the courtyards where our mothersdried the last harvest of peace—all of it now lives only in memory,soft as dusk,sharp as broke..

Winter

Echel AchomFog surrounds everythingYou can’t see anything but a haze of white and greyYou can see your breath before you feel itteeth are chatteringfaces are turning pinkfingertips are numbthe sun tries to push past the cloudsyou can’t fe..

The Ill-Fated Child and Mother

Aribam Surjeet SharmaThe child looks very vulnerableAnd have an uneasy fearful look Yet, trying very hard to feel secured In the protective arms of the mother;But no idea a brutal vicious endAwaits him and his dear mother.The menacing glares of their capt..

The Crossroads Within

Dr Ranbir LaishramLife—a shifting societal milieu,the fabric and its countless threads—to tangle or to break,to hold fast or unravel?To be, or not to be,a part of this woven tapestry,intertwined with the mind, the voice,the sentiments borne fr..

The Clock of the Kingdom

Maibam RomiyoThe kingdom’s clock strikes odd hours,Ticking not for the people but for the powers.Dawn arrives at midnight, dusk at noon.All because His Highness said so too soon.He signs decrees like throwing darts,Missing the map but wounding heart..

An Ethnic Clash

Aribam Surjeet SharmaA very dark night filled with the roarOf a violent storm raging all around.Strong winds of hatred blowing all overAnd spreading poison in many hearts-Hearts belonging to two communities-Triggering violence upon violenceIn various part..

Triplet of Choices

Chongtham RonikumarDoes everyone want to be an unworthy toy ,Played by unwelcomed jesters , never their own joy ?Living for others, not for freedom's voice!Have you seen the monk, weighed by sins ,Walking for pavement of rebirth's grim spins ?Is this the..

Diet or Poison?

Randhir Thiyam, UripokWe call it "Healthy Foods":Bananas, Grapes, Apples, Mangoes...But "Fruits" are marinated in pesticide "Poison" soup.Bananas dipped in "Carbide" toxins,Grapes showered in "Chemicals",Apples, Mellons and Mangoes drunk on "Sweet Poison"..

Together Through the Storm

Dr Ranbir LaishramWhen survivalbecomes our only compass—when every step aheadfeels like walking through storms.When chaosshakes hands with order,and orderslips back into chaos.When scarcity overshadows abundance,and tired heartshide themselvesin the..

My Manipur

Surjeet AribamThey say, it is a land of jewels,They say, it is a land of plenty,They say, rings of hills fence its bordersWith hill people standing on sentry-A sweet refrain about my state.With a valley resting in the middleAnd in it an inland lake which..

Summer

Echel AchomButterflies fly, bees buzz,Flowers sway towards each other,As if whispering a secret that no one could ever knowThe grass feels crunch beneath my feet.Early summer morning, when there is just a slight chill,And the grass is fresh with dewThe su..

A Call to the Keepers

Randhir ThiyamIt falls to us—custodians of the flame—To guard the songs that built our living thread;For culture is the fortress of our name,A shield for children marching where we led.No rescuing host will rise when echoes fade,No stranger me..

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 mean Equality among all..

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

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

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..