QUIET AGONY

QUIET AGONY

Tears are 

Blinked away

Before

They fall

Revealing 

Pain...

No words

Are spoken

At least  

Not aloud...

Though much is

Said

With no sound!

The unartistic

Painter

Has splashed

Life's colors

On the

Canvas so blank...

The life

Of the hues

Drip like blood

In a pool...

Creating an

Unfathomable 

Mural!

Such disgrace

What a plight

Alone

To fight...

Against the

Stacked odds

Of paint brush

On the paint

Of fragile

Life...!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

OH SKY LOVER

TOGETHER IN TRANQUILITY

Oh Sky Lover 

At twilight 

You dim 

Daylight 

Commencing 

Your 

Romance

Beginning our

Night...

While you woo

The heaven

And dance with 

Her in your

Embrace, 

Two lovers

Joined by

Stars around

And over their

Heads,

We call it

A day

And fall asleep

In our beds...

You live dreams

As they realize 

Before yours 

And your beloved one's

Eyes...

We see dreams

In sometimes

Restless slunber

Other whiles

With sights

Laden with tiredness 

Closed to all

Yonder!

Oh, how wonderful 

It'd be 

If only 

We could join

Forces

Sky Lover...

In love 

We human waifs

Would live

Our dreams 

With you 

And Heaven

Together in 

Tranquility!

And when night

Draws nigh 

End,

You'd turn up

Daylight 

Along with us,

Humans

As we awakened 

With contended

Sighs...

How pleased 

We'd all be

With delightful

Nights behind us

New

Love filled days

Awaiting us

In reality 

Dreams

Where we'd all

Live in...!

     FREDERIKA MENEZES 

Oh Sky Lover 

At twilight 

You dim 

Daylight 

Commencing 

Your 

Romance

Beginning our

Night...

While you woo

The heaven

And dance with 

Her in your

Embrace, 

Two lovers

Joined by

Stars around

And over their

Heads,

We call it

A day

And fall asleep

In our beds...

You live dreams

As they realize 

Before yours 

And your beloved one's

Eyes...

We see dreams

In sometimes

Restless slunber

Other whiles

With sights

Laden with tiredness 

Closed to all

Yonder!

Oh, how wonderful 

It'd be 

If only 

We could join

Forces

Sky Lover...

In love 

We human waifs

Would live

Our dreams 

With you 

And Heaven

Together in 

Tranquility!

And when night

Draws nigh 

End,

You'd turn up

Daylight 

Along with us,

Humans

As we awakened 

With contended

Sighs...

How pleased 

We'd all be

With delightful

Nights behind us

New

Love filled days

Awaiting us

In reality 

Dreams

Where we'd all

Live in...!

     FREDERIKA MENEZES 

AGAIN

AGAIN

Oh where have

You run off

To

Hiding from my

Heart...

Do you not

Know

That it is

You, I seek

To light up

My life?

For a while 

Back there

We were inseparable 

A force  

Unbeatable ...

Now, I am left

Feeling

Miserable!

Why'd you run

Where'd you go?

Out of my

Reach

Like never before...

I miss you

Laughter, I miss

You joy

My heart beats 

As an 

Empty shell

With nothing but

Echoes of 

Your voice!

Return, Oh please

Forever stay

And so

Let me 

Live and breathe

Youth again.

Where dreams 

Begin and 

Never end...!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

WINGS

WINGS

Oh that I 

Had wings...

How far and

Wide

I'd fly...

The world below

Me

The sky above

The four winds

Blowing

Through my

Feathered garb!

I'd see all peoples 

And lands...

I'd hear talking

In languages

Unheard of by me

Before

And varied traditions 

And cultures

I'd learn...

Oh, I'd not ever

Be bored

Or wonder

About life

Beyond these

Walls I am bound 

To call home!

My abode would 

Be

The tallest trees

Upon who's branches

I'd perch

Carefree and singing...

A little bird

Or maybe an eagle

I'd be

If only I had 

Wings 

In freedom, the world

To see...!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

TRUE PURPOSE

TRUE PURPOSE 

Draw me a.

Bridge

That I may 

In a whim

Cross it

Reaching 

The other side

Of here...

I am set

Ready to leave!

Out of time

My garments are

Made

Of cloth and paper

Straps.. .

They'll tell you

The tale

Of my long wait!

Upon my feet

I wear no heels

Just plain 

Sandals...

They've been worn

For a great long 

While

Thinned out by

The passage

Of timeless time!

Above my head

The skies have 

Turned

Many times over

Marking the many 

Rebirths 

Of Earth...

Still, I remain myself

Yet someone else!

So draw me

A bridge

That I might 

Cross it...

I tire, I weaken

Where you are

I too desire

To be...

Rested and content

Like you

Knowing my 

True purpose 

In my identity...!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

ODE TO INDIA, MY HOME

ODE TO INDIA, MY HOME

O Land of 

My birth

How resplendent 

In glory

You are...

Clothed in 

Garments of Valor

Your body

Moulded in sacrificial

Triumph

Bejeweled in 

Cultures

Crowned in

Traditions...

Wed you are

To every human 

Within you, living!

A child once 

You were.

A bride you

Grew to be

Endowed with

Teachings of 

The wise

That wisdom embraced

Right from

The soil of your

Queenship's feet...

Garlands of silver

And gold 

Wear you over

Every inch of

Your outwardly

Whole...

What really earns

You praise, though,

Is the one people

Who proudly say

As do I, 

You are India

My heart and soul.

My Home...!

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

UNREALISTIC CERTANITY

UNREALISTIC CERTAINITY

A quiet sigh

Escapes

From barely 

Parted lips...

Behind eyes

Closed

The world is

A dream...

A reverie 

Of unreality

Is seen and

Felt

Why then awaken

To the actual ?

It isn't a rose b0ed

Or a bubbling 

Brook

Nor is it 

A song tune...

It is

An actuality

Of terror, pain and

Uncertainty!

Dream on then

And sigh

Contentedly...

I say

Better to dwell

In a n unrealistic 

Reality...!

     FREDEĹRIKA MENEZES 

HEED!

HEED!

On rough seas

Sails life's ship...

Tossing and tumbling

Against the rise

It goes...

Frightened, life

Cries for help

Alas, the waters

Roar

Drowning the

Calls of life 

So poor!

Skies overcast

Plunge down

 Menacingly

Life to grab

And take...

The voice calls

Gasping 

With every toss

And tumble

Of the ship

Now, resembling 

A wreck...

Does no one

Hear?

How can none care?

Life is violently

Helplessly

Fading...

Heed!

Ignore not...

Life's plea!

The seas will

Continue tumultuous 

And the skies

Shall bear down

To steal calm

By instilling an 

Unshakable fright...

Step forward 

Row ahead

In lifeboats 

Save the life 

Reaching our

Desperate for

Help and comfort...!

       FREDEĹRIKA MENEZES 

MEMORIES ANEW

MEMORIES ANEW

Shattered,  it lies

Each bit a memory 

Every fragment

A feeling...

The waves of

Sorrow

Drown it

Winds of fury

Sweep it away...

The broken 

Gets caught in 

A whirlwind!

It isn't a storm

Of joy.

Rather  one of 

Melancholy...

In the whirl of

Wind

The pieces and

Fragments 

Unite

Even as they are 

Carried away...

Oh such is

The splendid sight...

The shattered, whole

Again...

Waves of hurt

Reach it

 No longer

For tne anger filled

Wind

Has carried away 

The debris...

In it's place 

Life anew

Stands, runs

And dances

Creating memories 

Afresh

Rememberences

No longer of 

Pain

But of unending 

Happiness...!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

MY INDIA

MY INDIA

I awoke this

Morning 

With a great awe

In my heart

And on my lips

A glory song...

Of tall greens

And bubbling

Streams

Growing and flowing

With roots

Deep in rich soil

Wàtèrèd by 

Guŕggling waves

Of rivers pouring 

Into brooks and lakes...

About the hard

Working 

Woman, man 

And child

The song

Went on...

Oh how these

Live...

By the sweat 

Of their brow

Along with stolen 

Youth

They make ends

Meet!

The varied hues

From garments to

Ways of life

These form the

Bridge

To my rhyme 

Song...

The brave human

Defenses

Together with intelligent 

Man-made aids

And the brain weavers

Governing my land

Are the chorus

Of this here 

Song...

From dawn

To dusk

I hum  of

The greatness 

That is my

India...!,

   FREDERIKA MENEZES 

AT THE CENTRE OF CALM

AT THE CENTRE OF CALM

A quiet cry

Rips through 

The bright dark...

Tears fall

In hurt and fright...

All around 

Life is calm!

Pain inflicted

By words

And hands

Meander

Upon the body

Heart and soul...

Smiling through tears

Weeping

Through laughs... 

Hours turn 

Dawn to dusk!

No safe haven

Does life

See...

For In tears

It, this seeks!

Patience and prayers 

Help not

For nothing but 

Talks are the actions

Taken...

Talk is mere

Speech

In the evil

Face of atrocity...!

           FREDERIKA MENEZES 

SUMMER CELEBRATION SIGHT

SUMMER CELEBRATION SIGHT

Oh, look

A feast is on!

The beautiful birds

Are having 

In a vast blue

Bowl,

Vanilla scoops

Of ice cream...l

It is a party

The king of all

Parties

To celebrate 

The Summer 

Season!

I can see the 

Vanilla scoops

Mingled with blackcurrant 

Ice cream !

Oh, how they 

Enjoy

My feathery friends 

With envious eyes

I look on...

It is not

That I want their

Share

Of creamy coldness...

For should I eat

A spoon

Break wind I shall

And it will not be

A pleasant smell!

Come along then

Summer star

Shine warm and

Bright...

Thus melting away

The birds' celebratory

Delight...

No  longer

Will I then be

Indulging in jealousy...!

        FREDEĹRIKA MENEZES 

NIGHTMARE DREAM

NIGHTMARE DREAM (inside the being of a war victim)p

I sometimes 

Wonder

If my life

Is a dream...

Where up

Is down

Wrong is 

Right...

Where living

Has to fight

Life!

Perhaps, it is

A reverie

In which I 

Lay

To the bone

Weary...

Maybe, am

Cowering...

Afraid of everything 

Happening around 

And to me!

An internal battle 

Between 

Mind and heart...

Unheard cries

Of àn imprisoned0

Soul...

Could I be 

Caught 

In what I feel,  

Hear and see

In my agonizing 

And treacherous 

Sleep dream?

If this is

Indeed so,

Wake me quick

To a fairer 

Ŕeality...!

     FREDERIKA MENEZES 

TRAPPED

TRAPPED

From where I sit

On my bed

At the world

Outside I peek

Wishing I were

Outside looking in

Instead...

For in being so

I would see

My own  stark

Reality!

A mind bubbling 

With creativity,

A heart

Bursting with 

Love to give...

A soul longing to 

Break free!

In a prison

Of glass and stone

I love

With not just 

Lonesome 

But abuse too

For company...

Such I'll get 

Companions

For no one

I wish

None deserve

This!

My heart, it hurts

With every 

Abusive line

And word...

My mind reels

From harshly spoken 

WordsQ

While my body

It staggers

From the invisibly

Inflicted wounds...

Fear is in me

Who shall

Protect me?

So, from my spot

On the bed

At the world I 

Look out...

Wondering if ever

Someone from the 

Outside will, look

In on me

And from the shackles

I have written of

Set me free...

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

LONELY LIFE, BREATHES...

LONELY LIFE,  BREAFHES...

In quiet

She weeps

For life, feels

Alone...

In a world 

Of company 

She is left

On her own!

What of them

Who surround her?

Do these not see

Unshed tears

Nor hear cries

In disguise of

A jolly smiles?

Do they not

Realize

The turmoil

Of this life?

Such fools, why

Are they around 

If they cannot 

Discern

Her unspoken pain

Or heed 

The cry so 

Silently loud!

Must they be

Shaken awake

From their reverie

So they can finally

Clearly hear her

And  her, truly see...?

Life breaches 

Lifeless...!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

WHY, O WHY

WHY, O WHY.. ?

(in memory of cousin Maria Helena)

I seek for

Words

To write my feelings 

But they have 

Taken flight...

The only emotion 

I find is shock.

A true gem

Got stolen 

From my life!

The gem sparkled

With wit and sincerity

Bravery and sensitivity...

The Jewel

Was a true

Lady!

Her stories

Were told in 

Huey details 

So, when she 

Told them

One felt as though ⁰

One were living

The tale...

O Jewel, stolen away

You're the treasure 

Out of which 

The richness of life

Is made!

Whý, o why 

Did you let

Yourself ģet

Taken from life,.

Away...?

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

FOR UKRAINE

FOR UKRAINE 

An inhuman wail

Rises...

Run life, run

For breath

And survival...

The innocent lay

Awake under earth

Some sprawl across 

Rubble...

Loud man made

Thunder, claps 

And down fall fireballs

Burning brave fighting lives

And bricks standing tall!

The pitter-patter of

Little feet ring out

On deaf asphalt...

Frightened eyes

Seek Arma to embrace...

Youth stolen

By war disgrace!

Enough! Be done 

With it...

This is a battle of 

Cruel vanity

And greed...

Lay them down

Those weapons in

Your hands...

Sound no more

The not human

Wails...

Hold back them

Fireballs

That burn and kill...

Rebuild the broken 

Piece together 

All that is torn...

Collect o safety the

Runaways unblamed

On their home soil

Let all in peace unite...

For innocence sake

Stop this war-fight...!

FREDERIKA MENEZES