Sashi's Space
oh……to be at the beachArchive for September, 2008
Mirisawetiya
Ancient Mirisawetiya
Stands in all its awe
A globe reaching out to the sky
As if it were a receptor
For communication with the gods
Surrounded by thick jungle cover
It exudes a strange energy
That seeps in to the soul
Little by little
As I stood there gazing
Reciting ancient words
that have been spoken
over and over again
by every pilgrim
that has walked this path
I sensed a strange belonging to this land
A connection I have not
Felt before
The ground felt familiar
And with each step
I felt rooted
By some energy
Some inexplicable link
As if I have stood here
And done exactly this
Many a lifetime
Sashikala Premawardhane
I write
I write
for you
As if these words could
Turn circumstances around
Fingers beating down on the keyboard
Making the charm bracelet- you gave me- jingle
In my heart
I believe they could
And so I write
For you
The mind knows nothing
Of what the heart believes
And is forever
The pessimist
Laughing at my folly
Sashikala Premawardhane
Mala and Kumari
The mention of Mala and Kumari
Evoke such rage
Picking up clothes from off the floor
I fight off your embrace
“Not this on my Birthday!” No way!
I decide to tell you what I think
And walk out –forever-
I don’t know why I stayed
Maybe it was the way you said “don’t go”
Or maybe this was where I wanted to be
With you, today,
Or maybe I could hear you
Without you saying a word
For once, I understood
The different reasons
Why we need this
When nothing else makes sense
There is comfort
In the world we have created for ourselves- unconsciously
Sashikala Premawardhane
Don’t Speak
On one of those days
When I couldn’t speak
I picked up the phone
And called you
Accusations flew
And I realised
I was foolish
To think
I could put into words
All this
I gave up speaking
And told you
Not to speak, as well
It’s better sometimes
Not to speak
So that we can hear each other
Think
Sashikala Premawardhane
Evening Traffic
The buffaloes saunter
In to the midst of evening traffic
Survey the honking drivers gently
and put a stop to their breakneck drive home
With one slow step after another
They trail across the street
In no particular order
As if there is time
To saunter
Still
time
Drivers look at each other in frustration
And grudgingly smile
What can you do really?
Buffaloes are busy deciding
Whether the patch of grass
Growing from the crack in the carpeted road
Is worth the effort
Despite the noise
Parked in the middle of the road
We wait leisurely
For them to have their snack
And see
the sun slowly sinking in the sky
Sashikala Premawardhane
Without love without love without love
It’s good that you said what you said- “I don’t love you”
“ok” I responded “ I didn’t know”
“you knew all along” you accused
“what were you thinking? That I’ll be with you?”
“Why did you keep coming back if it was torture for you?”
“I love someone else”
“If you love someone else, what were you doing with me?” I asked
“ I don’t know, I like you, that’s why”
I stopped talking
You had your own screwed up logic
Who was I to argue with that?
The dismissal was simple
There was nothing to be confused about
I felt like a fool
And bid you farewell
One thing though
You ought to know
Along the way these games will tire you out
And the women you love
Will find out- one day-
How you loved a girl without loving her
and how it broke her heart
and think what man is this that loves me?
Who can love without love without love.
Sashikala Premawardhane
