Poems

Night

Silently sleeps the river
the dark pines hold their peace
Nightingales do not sing
The silence of the night
Enfolds all nature
and the brilliant moon
Turns everything into silver.
Silver is the river
and silver is the grass
on the fertile steps.

Chinthaka Lasantha,
Royal English School,
Matale.

Purity
 

Finger in mouth he turns about gently,
His face chocolate brown and his eyes pressed
together tight, where he was witnessing the heavens.
He dreams of the angels…of birds…of magic…of life.
His thoughts shifting from one scene to another he clutches the pillows that lie lifelessly around him.
They hold him…cradling him...comforting him
Have you seen him? The boy?
With chocolate brown skin, with glittering eyes and a mischievous smile.
He knows more than we dare to think for, he has been here so few a years.
Unlike us his mind wonders further.
Do you not see him?
The child who sleeps in tranquility.
Who lies before me…who fails to see that life can be both breathtaking and haunting?
I crave to know his thoughts. Do you not?
Not a care in the world these little angels.
Have you not seen him, the boy with the chocolate brown skin?
I can see him clearly now…This extraordinary being.
I want to touch him…
Feel the softness of his glossy black hair. But will l stir him from his soundless slumber?
Standing above him I feel unworthy. His heart too pure to be in the presence of mine that has now been blackened by hurt and loss and pain.
Tears fall from my eyes…I can’t save him from the tragedies of this life we live. I’m helpless…Why?
Depressing is it not? How all of us used to be angels…How all of us will end with some part of us cracked and splintered.
But he is still pure… His heart is still warm but mine is not.
Do you see him?
The boy with the chocolate brown skin?
I can see him lying soundlessly before me.
If you see him you have witnessed purity in its purest form.
Life in all its perfection…
Where darkness does not seem to creep up and overwhelm the heart…where life is magic and love and perfection.
Can you see him, the boy?
He will be gone now…Like us, it is too late… To turn back time.

Shanaya Nanayakkara,
Year 9,
Colombo International School.
Inspired by her 3-year-old cousin Ethan.

Hello
 

Hello Mr. Dumpy
Hello Mr. Flumpy
They both said Mmm...
Next I met
Mr. Noodle and
Mrs. Needle
I said hello to both
They said Mmm...
And I said hello to
all the people
But they all said
Mmm...

Sithmini D. Sirithunga,
Sacred Heart Convent.
 

Dog

Black, dangerous
Jumping, running and leaping
Afraid to meet one in the night
Bow! Wow!

Kavindu Gimhana Alahakoon,
B/Dharmasoka Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela.