Dead - Souls

I looked on non-pulsed
And defiant
At the dead body of a relative
Laid to rest in a grand coffin
Majestically enhanced in stature
In the middle of
The imposing parlour
Eye-lids closed
Quite resignedly
Though still wafting the aroma
of haughty exclusiveness
Vainly suppressed
For the grand occasion
Understandably, there were
hardly any mourners
Instead, a few privileged
Were having a gala time
Stylishly sipping purportedly cool drinks
To quench their insatiable thirst
Docilely served
By the natty servant
And the guests
Enterprisingly discussed
Dreary subjects such as
Tragic fall of share market
And rising tide of labour unrest
While the menacing heat
Smothered my soul
Till I departed
Very much relieved
Only to be embroiled
Once again
In heart-numbing
And tantalizing passions
Admittedly,
Quite a harmless device
To prolong the final farewell
Forecasting a prophesy of doom
and oblivion

Ranjan Amarasinghe

The poem describes a typical upper middle class funeral where the attendees are often with put up faces, sometimes shedding crocodile tears. The poet refers to men and women at the funeral as dead-souls. The poet use simple diction and short lines to drive home the idea. -Indeewara

Tribute to princess Maname....

The sward not given,
When he asked
"The defeatist must not be killed"
You said
The great philosopher,
You would be ......
But others not intend to believe
you...
Since you...
just a woman
such a philosopher
died helplessly
at the end.
No wonder .....!
How can she expect
a help
from others
for a window
in this male-dominated society ?

Ashi Liyanaarachchi

The poet tries to shed light on a hitherto unseen aspect of the legend Maname. According to the story, the princess did not give the sword to Prince Maname at a crucial point of duel with Veddha king. Veddha king killed prince Maname. Princess Maname is used as a symbol of woman's duplicity. However, the poet says over generations, character of the princess Maname has not been depicted unjustly and that princess Maname was in fact a philosopher who believed in that those who had been defeated should be spared. Comparing the legend to contemporary society, the poet questions : 'How can she expect a help in a male - dominated society'. The poet has used a simple diction. -Indeewara