A Break from the Norm

analyst75

Well-Known Member
Breaking free from the usually dreary and cryptic anthology… welcoming entertaining, simple, easily-understood and provocative poetry…

See three samples below:



(65) VACANCIES

An applicant called today
Dressed well but looked hopeless
Credentials filled his bag,
But he left as he came.

Vacancies in newspapers,
Vacancies on posters,
Vacancies on the web,
Vacancies on the air.

Vacancies that do not exist,
Vacancies have been filled,
Vacancies from fraudsters
That hoodwink the helpless.

The use of long arms,
Or the use of connections,
Or the use of kickbacks
Is not always effective.

Passing exams is battle,
Going to college is war,
Getting good jobs is futile,
And some jobs need no degrees.

An applicant called today
But his objective failed.
He left only papers,
Will he go on like this?

Ben Alani (November 2007)




(105) SOLDIER ANTS

…We shall all enemies batter,
…we shall all obstacles scatter,
…we shall all do that matter,
…we shall make our ranks fatter
For our future gather
The food-gathering for generation latter
There are many reasons to gather
Tomorrow may be nothing but water,
And many humans madder
So, to bite them, we are gladder –
With a million teeth harder.
Explore for a safer haven
Meanwhile a myriad
Insect and animals fall prey,
To our battalions and commandos –
…And we shall make our ranks fatter,
…we shall all do that matter,
…we shall all obstacles scatter,
…we shall all enemies batter,
…we shall all enemies batter,
…we shall all obstacles scatter,
…we shall all do that matter,
…And we shall make our ranks fatter.
For our future gather
Till there’s nothing for human madder
Our ranks move forward
Ruthless reckless restless
As we search the Promised Land,
Ruthless reckless restless
As we act with one accord
Ruthless reckless restless
As our youngs’ future counts
Ruthless reckless restless
As our adversaries scramble –
…And we shall make our ranks fatter,
…we shall all do that matter,
…we shall all obstacles scatter,
…we shall all enemies batter.

(Ben Alani, 2009)




(107) A BUFFALO DIES IN A TOWN

A buffalo dies in a town
Where there’s no knife
To those who know not their values
Opportunities flash themselves

A buffalo dies in a town
Where there’s a need for meat
By they don’t recognize that
The dead buffalo is a bundle of meat –
Opportunities come as a curse
Peace often disguises as disappointments
Prevention from worst experiences comes as delays

A buffalo dies in a town
Where they prefer to look for meat in the desert
Acres of diamonds – acres of diamonds
What we have we never appreciate

A buffalo dies in a town
Where it’s left to rot and waste
We take no advantage of opportunities

A buffalo dies in a town
Where residents are complacent and sluggish
On the other side the grass is always greener
Conwell’s Acres of Diamonds! – There’s no pity
For the rich man’s child
Who’s overpampered and ungrateful
To create wealth is better
Than to inherit it

A buffalo dies in a town
Where things are taken for granted
But tough times make people
Tough, self-reliant and resilient
More than being garrulous and loquacious
Actions do matter
Strengthening those persevering
On the earth
The courage to face the odds
In the world
And prove themselves by their effort.

(Ben Alani, 2009)


The rest of the 108 poems can be seen here:
A Break From the Norm
 
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