One Stop Poetry Features Finalists from the Fall Poetry Competition “Through a Child’s Eyes”
Have you ever gone out into a garden in the dead of winter and found an unexpected flower blooming? I feel this way at One Stop Poetry. I am constantly being astounded at the beautiful writing and talent of the poets we have the honor of featuring. Here are two of those talents. Ninot Aziz and Shashidhar Sharma entered the fall poetry competition and were finalists. Their poetry submissions are below.
If you have not already read the winner's poem, we want to remind you to go to Spark Bright Magazine and read our Renee Sigel's poem.
Born in Tasmania, Australia - she is a Malaysian living in Kuala Lumpur.
Her family: husband and five daughters are the joy of her life
" that was why this poem was a joy to do - it was
inspired by my 5 girls. Poetry is like breathing to me, it came naturally - I was 11 when I wrote my first poem , it was on Florence Nightingale. Now I am trying my hand at Malay pantun and French poetry too."
"Now, the added bonus of doing poetry is because the poet blogsphere is such a wonderful community!"
Sleepy Eyes Wide Awake
Mirror mirror
Dancing reflection
Dame Margot perfection
Aquamarine towels
Wrapped tightly
Mermaid tail deep sea
Upside-down table
A chug chug boat
In a castle's moat
Dreamland eyes
Standing poles
Prepping up white sheets
Mountain high peaks
Kitty cat
By the kitchen stand
A panther on Lost Island
Swirling clouds
Kissed by sunset
Cotton candy fete
Playtime eyes
One Stop Poetry would like to congratulate Ninot as she also has a book coming out this month.
My first published book published locally on Malay legends was FROM
THE WRITTEN STONE , now, FROM THE GATHERING is due out in December -
the latest entitled HIKAYAT - From The Ancient Malay Kingdom is due
out in 2011.
www.poemsbyninotaziz.blogspot.com
www.pantundanselokaninotaziz.blogspot.com
www.lapoesieparninotaziz.blogspot.com
Shashi was one of our four finalists and is no stranger to One Stop Poetry. I am enclosing an excerpt from a recent interview. You are welcome to read more about Shashi in that One Stop Spotlight.
Why did you start writing poetry?
...This inner journey needed an expression externally. Hence, I started writing my thoughts—first on the personal blogs and then later on publically, in order to give body to my thoughts, experiences, and learning; which I can go back to, to relive, re-learn, re-collect. In the beginning, I started taking pictures, but then they were inadequate as they gave those powerful places, nature, emotions a body but not the soul. So I started writing poetry, free form of Haiku’s, my thoughts, etc..."
Butterfly
Look, there she is, there on the window pane
A new friend from the dreams last night
As she promised to teach me how to fly
In sunshine and in rain
She is bright and beautiful, pinker than my ma’s cheek
Her wings have so many colors
Like the rainbow I painted last summer, for Pa’s Birthday
Before he left for the war, to make money for us to eat
Tell me butterfly, how does one eat money?
How does one go to the war?
I don’t want Pa to go to the war; I don’t want any money to eat;
You know, whenever I hug him, I don’t feel hungry at all
Oh! Butterfly, why are you flying away - so far?
Out side, the day is still full of light; sure you can wait a little more?
Ma will be back soon, from her nightshift, and will let you in
Don’t you see, I can not; I am in the bed, too sick to unlatch the window bar
Butterfly, my dear Butterfly, you have teach me how to fly
I promised Pa - a hug tonight, I know where he “wars” now;
Ma showed me the other night, when she cried
“There, Kalina, there he is, the Evening Star”
You know Butterfly; I love him so much,
Much more than I love Ma,
Really! You must teach me to fly, as I have to go now
You see, my Ma does not even smile much
@Shashi Oct, 2010
contact information for Shashi
There is a book in the works for Shashi as well.
'Kalina', a book of poems, about an young girl, and her love, yearnings and life in
Greece.
