A million trees will grow

When a million trees grow
A billion flowers will blossom
A million birds will sing
And billon eggs hatch
The forest will yield
Their fertility ...

The rain will not pause
But pour in thunderous showers
The winding river will spill
Brooks and streams and lakes alike
And a million laughing trees will
Spread their lovely boughs...

Their sheet of green burgeoning
Beneath a turquoise sky
Will match their wits in colour
When a million mischievous trees
Will ripen
A billon luscious fruits...

In the radiance of a silver moon
And the sparkle of a golden sun
The glitter of diamond-stars
Grow a million trees
And rivers flowing in their shades
In a chasm and mountain cleft ...

Gwen Herat

The poet enunciates her vision for nature. When trees are grown, they will bring about plenty and would make the world a paradise. The poem extols the glory of nature and what an important role that trees play in the eco-system. The poem is noted for its apt metaphors and use of simple diction.

Grove of mango (‘mee amba wanaye’)

I used to sing to a girl - who had eyes of light blue
They danced as if to dazzle - many-a-heart of youth
She threaded like an angel- coming beyond the blue
Singing through the honey filled mango grove

From dream to dream - whispering a word or two
She lingers - but leaves before I could hold her true

Draping the bridal cloth - shinning white
Around her figure - sweet little sight
It was a dream never to come right
I stopped singing- grove of mango ripe
 

Jayadeva Mayadunne

The poem is a skillful rendering of a popular Sinhalese song into English. The poet has captured the essence of the original song and is able to convey the vision that brings about when mangoes ripe. The poet has used simple diction.

Drifting...

Heart lashed by thy words
Dreams are in pieces
Drifting away in the wind
Hopes are no more
For me and for you

Bertholamuze Nisansala Dharmasena

In this brief poem, the poem conveys the sentiments of already separated lovers. The poet has used short lines and apt metaphors to convey the idea that chances for making up of the lovers is remote.

Fate

Blissful morning
Pleasant thoughts
Fresh hopes

Premature bud
Aim in blooming
Innocently

Young hornet
Sniff for pollen
Starts its journey

The blossom bloomed secretly
But fail to hide the scent
The hornet joyfully smell it

Charming blossom
Could not hide her fresh feelings
Before pompous hornet

Being the coviction she cried
Being the decider he flew

He came - He went
Helpless blossom did nothing
Scent is the error

No chance to question
No chance to correct
Gifted everything is to accept

Miracle of the fate is oracle of the life

Chanchala Gangodawila

In this long poem, the poet tries to define 'fate' in the context of nature. The poet uses sharp and short lines and skilfully conveys a philosophical idea which is relevant to life.

A pledge

"I can promise
You my warmth
I can promise
You my love
I can promise
You my heart
But I can't
Promise you
The wealth
Or comfort
For I'm inferior "

-Saumya Aloysius
(Wealth and comfort can do nothing in a blunt relationship for sure)

The poet has recreated the sentiments of a lover who could promise love and care but material wealth. It is a blunt love. The entire poem is a monologue on the part of the lover. Though there is little poetic diction, it is noted for authentic emotions.

Who is mad?

I just peeped into
A room in the mental hospital
Suddenly a laughing man
Rushed to me
And asked," are you mad?"
Then I replied," No".
But I repeatedly said,
"You are mad!
That's why you are
In mental asylum"

"Oh, What a surprise!
I am not mad
I am a doctor
Treating mental patients" said
The laughing man.

Then I left the spot
Hurriedly- thinking
That I too will go mad.

M.Y.M Meeadh

The poem is woven around an incident happened at a mental hospital. However, the poet questions the perception of madness.

we met in another

We met another existence really in the past
I can think, it's nearly huge and vast
I don't believe that you're wearing a mask
Never think it even dream, it is not my task

I forget whole the world in unlimited air
And my mind walks, I don't know where
However, you always were with me there
I never thought that you are a real nightmare

I could refuse all requests
Of different kinds of lovers
From a look or word pairs
I was one to avoid such affairs

But in front of your naked eyes
Myself communion happily flies
I was alone child in your marvel smiles
I never see that, but it is very nice

My heart feels shy
And tries to fly high in the sky

I'm really sick in my heart
Be the loving one, you can start
And be with me in smart
You are the one hoping in my part....

Mangala Rupasinghe

The poem is about finding a soul mate. Though the poem sounds, at times, pure statements, it is noted for its authentic experience and emotion of a girl who has found her soulmate.

panacea

Four billion eyes
Were watching on screens
With no vision
Or derision

Yes, it is just another couple
Like you and I
In this land or that
With money or not

With love or no love
In palaces and abbeys
With guards and yards
And dresses and rings
That can feed

Perhaps tons and tons

But they took our pains
Away for days
They gave us ways
To forget our daze

Let's wish them well
The innocent young lovers
Let's wish us well

As we hover.

Ananda P. Dasanayake

The poet conveys his sentiments about a wedding which has been watched on television by four billion eyes with no vision or derision. In a striking line, the poet wishes well for the innocent couple and those who watched the wedding perhaps in a 'hovering'state.

Life is like...

Life is like the wind
we never can touch it
anyone can feel it
it comes from nowhere
it blows through everything
and it goes to somewhere we don't know

Umesh Moramudali

In these couples of lines, the poet tries to define what life is like. Though the lines lack poetic diction to a certain extent, the poem is noted for its philosophical idea of life and the poet's attempts to define the nature of life.