An uninvited guest

I hear of many literary affairs in Colombo,
catering to distinguished guests
With high caste names with feudal roots
Representing a dying era.

Academics with high titles
Who have not read a Sinhala text for many moons
Gather at exclusive venues
Who promotes books for money.

In between business people
A sensitive soul selling his soul for survival
Also for the love of books and for imagined foreign exchange

Serving the middle men is a sensitive soul,
A mere cog of a big wheel
Stripping his soul and skin to exist; a mere survival
Like a pole-dancer in an exclusive night club.

An English speaking group talking of Sinhala literature
Postmodernist interpretations of Sinhala Lacan's work
In Colombo.

In between the talks and deals, a sensitive soul
Who has omitted another sensitive soul
Bestowed with mountains of lies.
Now listed as unwanted soul
As he has not sold his soul and rights
For the sake of top-class-business people who promote books for money.

Sunil Govinnage

This is perhaps a poetic imagination of a diasporic poet who has arrived in his native country, to attend a regional literary event and gazing at Colombo-centric literary activities that he sees only as gatherings of business people who congregate to sell books. The poem is also noted for projecting a new perspective instead of embracing stereo-type Colombo based literary activities.

Blindfolded justice

Justice is a far cry
When innocent tormented
And the mightier facilitated,
For all stand equal before law
Not to be discriminated,
Rule of law
Is weighed in the balance
Unevenly, yet,
Let not be disappointed my dear friend,
For the lady who holds the balance
Herself is blindfolded

Chanakya LIYANAGE

Using short and sharp lines, the poet offers a critical view on the notion of justice. The poem is noted for its apt metaphors.

A wonderful sister

My sister you are
That I know
Whose love is certain
Like a falling curtain
Examples good are shown to us
No wonder why
It's easy to trust

Mom's place you take
And do your best
And never give your self rest

Have you a warm and gentle heart
And a smile that captures
A hardened heart

As life goes on
Like an express train
You stop and care
And always share

Take heed my sis
Do what's best now
for you than all the rest

Dilrukshi DE SILVA

In this narrative poem, the poet extols the virtues of her sister. The poet has used a simple diction. At times, the poem assumes the nature of a description. However, the poem is noted for candid ideas.

Oh dad, you have fought enugh

Never tired of expecting
He waits at the gate
Listening to the familiar sound
So inviting
Igniting hope against hope

Notes exchange
Luck tested on the roadway
With a prayer to all gods
Known and unknown
He sits in front of the TV
Late night waiting
Never tired of expecting
Listening to the familiar sound
The lottery draw's theme music
So inviting and invigorating.

Disappointed with luck
Curses fill the air.
Failure to make an easy buck
Bangs on the arms of his favourite chair.

Listening to the familiar sound
So inviting
Never tired of expecting
Each minute hopes binding
He waits at the gate
He sits in front of the TV.

Oh Dad, you have fought enough,
Let it go for heavens sake,
We can get by, with no help divine.

N.D.Dassanayake

The poem is about a selfless father who works hard to ensure a bright future for his siblings. The poet has used simple diction with appropriate metaphors.

A nightmare that lingers

Walking through the memories
A nightmare that lingers
Endless tears
Love and destruction
All in one

Bertholamuze NISANSALA DHARMASENA

In a couple of lines, the poet sums up her turbulent life. It is a life of deprivations which often moved her into tears. The poet has used down-to-earth language and structure similar to Haiku.

Aloka pooja

The first sermon by the Blessed One
After enlightenment, pronounced
Was delivered to five great monks
Who could grasp the philosophy -keen

The flowers of Buddhism are increasing
By leaps and bounds
In this world of flux and hollow
Only the elements of artificiality
Resemble they

Without a wave of maturity,
Their power of reasoning, lost
Only a set of blind followers, they are
Grouping in the dark
Unable to reach the proper destination

The sublime Dhamma seldom heard
From places of worship of some
Teaching and preaching are limited
To literature woven around the doctrine
Long arrays of stanzas often, blared
Teachers of moral values are a few
Yet, preachers are more

When Sil observers return after observances
Hollowness reigns in their minds
Due to the shallowness of Dhamma heard
It'll take another 2600 years or more
Man to beckon
To the precincts of sublime Dhamma
Echoed from Our Great Renovator
During the reign of great-ruler, Devanampiyatissa
On the blissful day of Poson full moon day
At the foot of glorious rock of Mihintale
On the blissful day of Aloka Pooja
Let us be vigilant to kindle the eternal light
To get rid of the pitch-darkness of ignorance
And the artificiality in following the Noble Dhamma
With the dawn of Poson full moon day

Dharma KAVIRAJ

In this narrative poem, the poet traverses the history of Poson Full Moon day and leaves a moral message for readers. The poem is noted for its apt metaphors associated with Buddhism.

On his way home

Every love story
Is never too small
Princes and princesses
Nor brave neither tall
Knighted by love
Reigning your throne
Replying my destiny
I've made a really close call

The moments are never
Lost, till my soul
Merges with the sunset
When'd glow no more gold
The whispers of fantasies
Upon my cheeks so warm
Keeps as my company
In the nights long and cold

Love my little Princess
Can never be foregone
Embrace me, my memories
I'll never be able to hold
Someone so closely
To the place it was born
Now it feels empty
With you, my heart strolls

Sankhapadma WEERASINGHEGUNAWARDANA

The poem is dedicated to his first love and the poet has aptly captured the intense emotions of a lover and has used appropriate metaphors.

Power

Take a sip-then drain a cup full
One never to become content
Another why not- urged overwhelmed
Once again -and one to top it
Drink a belly full-smells the neighbourhood
Fill to eternity-stench intolerable
How ignorant-to overlook
A blunder repeated-and irreversible

Jayadeva MAYADUNNE

The poem encapsulates brilliantly the concept of power and how it corrupts human soul. The poem is noted for philosophical ideas and apt language.