Ranjith Embuldeniya - As I See It - A Poetry Collection

8/20/2019 Ranjith Embuldeniya - As I See It - A Poetry Collection

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*edi"ation

+his book is dedi"ated to three women$ all of whom who have ins&ired me but in different ways.+he first is my mother Edelweiss Embuldeniya who needless to say fed meand in"ul"ated me with all the noble thou!hts whi"h 2 believe was

instrumental in elevatin! me to what 2 am today.+he se"ond is *arlene ,""annis of the 2mmi!ration Settlement Asso"iationof alifa $ 3ova S"otia$ #anada who !ave me the hint that 2 "ould write.+he third is my wife Shehara who has stood by me all the way in seein! that2 finish what 2 start.


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anjith Embuldeniya

AS I SEE IT

A PO ET Y CO LLECTIO N

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#o&yri!ht © Ranjith Embuldeniya ;/01 <

+he ri!ht of Ranjith Embuldeniya to be identified as author of thiswork has been asserted by him in a""ordan"e with se"tion :: and :=

of the #o&yri!ht$ *esi!ns and >atents A"t 19==.

All ri!hts reserved. 3o &art of this &ubli"ation may be re&rodu"ed$stored in a retrieval system$ or transmitted in any form or by anymeans$ ele"troni"$ me"hani"al$ &hoto"o&yin!$ re"ordin!$ or otherwise$without the &rior &ermission of the &ublishers.

Any &erson who "ommits any unauthori?ed a"t in relation to this

&ubli"ation may be liable to "riminal &rose"ution and "ivil "laims for dama!es.

A #2> "atalo!ue re"ord for this title is available from the @ritishLibrary.

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2S@3 9:=1:=8 9:97 ; ardba"k<

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irst >ublished ;/01 <Austin ,a"auley >ublishers Ltd./ #anada S-uare

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>rinted and bound in 'reat @ritain

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7/21

Contents

The coldest of winds 11 The spirit spoke to me 12Misty eyes 13

When the angels call 14 At heaven’s gates 1!ain 1"

The last shot 1#

The ravages of war 1$%&ccess and fail&re 21 The 'diot (o) 22't’s Christmas 23

The glorio&s green leaf 24 Time 2*aith 2"Make a +oyf&l noise 2#,ispelling darkness 2$

When dreams come tr&e 3-Carry me on yo&r wings 31.ood things in life 32Change co&rse 33

The ho&r has come 34 And that’s .od 3%&mmon all yo&r co&rage 3"/repare yo&rself 3#

Why0 3

ord '’ll e yo&r messenger 4-ld fashioned 41

.od’s creation 42'n /aradise 43Crossing the ridge 44

ike waves on a sea shore 4 To e a sinner first 4" The second coming of 5es&s 4$ To feel .od 4

Where there are two three gathered in my name -nce yo& open yo&r heart 2

Thank yo& .od for this day 4 When ' fo&nd love " The r&le of th&m #

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' see myself $ Tomorrow when it dawns "-*ill &p my so&l ord "1'f ' did tr&st in the ord "2%ometimes when '’m weak "3

Anger "4 The +o&rney to heaven " White lilies ""6o greater love "#/atience "'’m not yet done #-

The distant hori7on was all red #1 Ask and yo& shall receive #2 The .a7an lament #3 The praying hands #4My free will #(ig mansions #"(e lavish with yo&r praise #$Chartering my oat #Call on the Mighty $-/oor nat&re $1'n flesh and lood $2

The ne)t meeting $3' was lost and fo&nd $4

5es&s please come $8nited in the same sprit $#

A gift from .od $$ Tr&st in the (i le $(e at it -

eave it a etter place 1 Where death has no sting 3

ead them 4!epent tr&ly "

isten to 9is voice #%in no more $%wimming against the tide

ife’s %atire 1-1 The ts&nami 1-2 They aren’t disa led 1-46o records: no history 1-

ove and 5&stice 1-"

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The coldest of winds

The coldest of winds don’t low from the 6orth or the %o&th /ole

't comes from within &s: and we’ve felt it times &ntold When the dark side of memories and stories &nfold't’s too late for amends: &t forgive we sho&ld

for a etter tomorrow and for the peace one’s so&l

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The spirit spoke to me

The clock keeps ticking; midnight: need a respite or may fall into a sl&m er An image: my s&pervisor: approaching me with an a&thoritative gest&re

't’s my reak: '’ll go to the lo&nge: or any space meant for a wayfarerr '’ll sit &nder the night sky feel the stillness and remain a star ga7er

%&ddenly: the spirit spoke to me: in the wee ho&rs of the morning 't didn’t matter whether others were sleeping: awake or moaning 't fed me with tho&ghts: asked me to p&t them down in writing

And said; think deep: &t make yo&r words light: so comforting

%o ' rose: picked &p my pen: noted every point: small and min&te%oon ideas: words: kept coming in s&ccession: these ' co&ldn’t ref&te6o groan no moan: no s&ndry cl&tter: co&ld interfere with what ' write

With a&sterity: coldest of winds: had ': to p&t &p a .oliathan fight

%o came the prose: the poems: like a stream o&t of nowhere: g&shing thers awake this moment: to e t&cked safely in ed: may e wishing

(&t who then will take &p iss&es: which gets the world in a whirlwind spinning '’d e rave like a soldier: give &p my today: so that others may have their living

Co&ld ' keep &p: set my mind on my work: in this space dimly lit0' fight my sleep: my tho&ghts go lank: it’s a &andary0*or taking on the indomita le: will it win me a medal: an accolade: gallantry0More yo& harp on it: it gathers moment&m: so t&rn a lind eye one may feel(&t that’s not me; ' pray for strength: yes: to take them on: daily when ' kneel

What looks like silver: gold: +ewels: or something glittering With age loses glamo&r: worthiness: it’s tempt for possessing While still on earth: try to e pleasing: and everything all&ring *or we never know: what’s in stock for &s: so also e charming

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Misty eyes

Misty eyes passed eside me,ew drops made it ha7y and soon it was only a shadow

(&t they spoke the first time they saw me' co&ld e wrong; '’m already onded in love mellow

To see yo&r ea&ty even while yo& passed eside me*illed me with g&ilt: ?cos ' know for s&re: deep elow

ove has a meaning: it’s not what my mortal eyes s&ggests to me and it’s in no way shallow

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When the angels call

When there’s +&st eno&gh to make ends meet and its fr&gality at its est When yo&r mind is reeling; knees wo le: and co&rage is p&t to the test That’s when the angels are calling; keep marching: never loose 7est @o&r patience may e r&nning o&t: &t still try to +est

When yo&r eyes are l&rry; having worked over mid night When yo&r head is di77y: and m&st hold on to someone tight That’s when the angels are calling it’s time for yo&r so&l to e fed/lace yo&r worries efore 9im that gave all: efore yo& get to ed

When there is none: and yo&’re all alone: yo& cannot find yo&r way When yo& aren’t s&re: if in the l&rch: a foe holds a weapon a sway That’s when the angels are calling; rest ass&red and pray 'n the strongest li77ard 9e’ll lead yo&: not let yo& astray

When yo& are o&t there all y yo&rself: with no one to stand y @o& are mis&nderstood: falsely acc&sed: makes yo& >&estion why That’s when the angels are calling; do charity in silence with no h&e and cry Why worry when what yo&’ve done is gra ed y another: and others his story &y

When yo& &rnt mid night oil &t still aren’t within sight of a sol&tion @o& know there’s no standing a chance: no pardon: &t admonition That’s when the angels are calling; never mind: yo& forgot yo&r adoration @o&r efforts will ear fr⁢ don’t e hindered y any limitation

When yo& know yo&’ve done all yo& can: tried yo&r est to &ild yo&r nest When yo& know yo&r day is done: yo&’ve eckoned and hosted every g&est That’s when the angels are calling: to give yo&: yo&r well deserved rest There’s a day yo&’ll e +&dged: so t&rn yo&r good to etter: and then to est

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At heaven’s gates

't’s not a place to cash onds: weigh profits and loss: draw gains accr&ed6ot a place to claim a slot eca&se yo&’ve done less ad: and more good

't’s not a place to compare merits: neither cover misdeeds: with falsehood't’s a place to reflect: whether etween yo& and .od: there e)isted in fact a ond

't’s not a o&t how many friends yo& had: &t to how many were yo& a friend6ot a o&t yo&r clothes and how many: &t a o&t how many yo& had clothed't’s not a o&t who yo&r neigh o&rs were: &t how yo& treated yo&r neigh o&rhood't’s not a o&t skin colo&r: &t whether the content of yo&r character was good

't’s not a place where first come is served first: rather the first is last and last first't’s whether the stranger: the straggler: on the y way: was helped to >&ench histhirst

When the other car sped past: in a fren7y did yo& clench yo&r fist0 Was the wanderer: helped home: amidst darkness and failing light

'f yo&’d een like .oliath: think


14/21

Rain

The rain goes pell mell9oods go &p: 7ips tightened &p

Coats &ttoned on: trying to keep dry head to toe from The rain goes pell mell

/edestrians move on: heads owed down9eavy rain drops: atter their gown

The g&sty winds get parasols off lown The rain goes pell mell

%h&tters come down: windows close one y one%hops call it a day: shopping is almost done%ign oards gathered in a h&rry: no one likes to tarry

The rain goes pell mell

!ain drops make head lights twinkle/assing vehicles at times get yo& a sprinkle

Ta)is are &sy; distant lights are larger than life and f&77y The rain goes pell mell

The &s p&lls over: comm&ters scram le for co7y cover A welcome y the driver: yo&’re rid of the cold and the shiver Another day is done; tomorrow no one knows what is to comeByes lifted &p in thanks: take me soon to home sweet home

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The last shot

9e fired the last shot: then of his rifle lost holdaid on the gro&nd: in min&tes his ody ran cold

T’was heroism par e)cellence not +&st eing old%o id good ye: my erstwhile friend from days of old

The last post: at the grave yard: the tr&mpets lew ined &p in ceremonial filing: were &s: his friends a few

A final sal&te: for all we remem er and a friend we knew @o& remained yo&ng; years didn’t grow yo& old: &t we grew

We didn’t r&n: lift or +&mp: to make a mark Add rain to the rawn: was to what we did hark (&t did life deal a low too harsh: or play on &s a lark

Why so early in life: were we left with memories so dark

(rains we sho&ld’ve had: the &niversity did grant &s a degree Amidst mid night reporting: and morning’s parade in a d&ngaree The day f&ll of lect&rers ends with reports: and a co&rsework spree We s&ffered them all with dedication: we were all of the same pedigree

A letter he wrote home was looked at with malice To leave it in a ook in the st&dy hall: some may say was foolish9e said he fo&nd the physical rigo&r: not matching the great chalice9e wished a win win: and this he wrote in earnest: not with intent to tarnish

'n the 8nit he got down to planning: drawing and then s&rveying This is what he was trained for: he grad&ated in civil engineering (&t his men co&ldn’t see him in to a great officer mat&ring *ate was so: it str&ck him a low: then got everyone grieving

We love mother anka we love o&r land: and keep the flag aloft%it&ations changed: the +o&rney changed: and that wasn’t a r&pt6ow in a land far away we think: reminisce: of dear home so oftMemories linger each evening: with m&sic so solemn and so soft

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The ravages of war

A charred city: ' see smoke from the chimney: was there someone still aliver was the ho&se &rning: the front line passed it at a half ho&r passed five

(its and pieces: shattered glass on the floor; this city was once a &sy hive%keletons not ho&ses; the ravages of war: not witnessed y all &t y a few

9ome sweet home far from yo&r osom: '’m in ang&ish: will ' make it ack*or the moment ' have my g&n at alert: a few rations: that’s all in my pack

We got to n&dge ahead: the line had to e firm: co&ldn’t leave any slack est we are weak and open: the enemy wo&ld do: a frontal or side attack

We p&sh along amidst the crack and the th&mp: and then came d&sk 6ow for a night har o&r: finding a good position: was not an easy task

The infantry knows the est: they chose gro&nd: to provide good mask=Bach trio dig &p yo&r trench=: said the commander:


17/21

' gra ed my &ddy and t&cked his head: ehind a near y pillar' dashed for cover +&st within reach: so my voice he will hear

An e)plosion with th&nder: a shell fell close: that was a killer,ead and in+&red: side y side: no one knows an acc&rate fig&re

Three ho&rs: this attle: the so&nd of fire: now grad&ally ceases The men start moving: gathering the in+&red: the tension eases Taken to firm gro&nd: for med aid and rest: &nder sec&re premises Who will make it: who will not: no cl&es: aren’t any promises

A f&ll month in this attle field: finally we come within sight A camp &nder siege: they fo&ght thirty days: all day and night The troops stood their gro&nd: showed valo&r and their might We shake hands; the attle is won: in a cele ration we &nite

' take a trip ack to ase: in a day or two '’m going home in a plane(&t many didn’t make it; their names will e: eneath the eternal flame

The s&preme sacrifice was made y heroes: others live to &ild &p fame The scars of war remain ineffacea le:

the landscape elow and the memories of: for generations will never e the same

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Success and failure

,oes s&ccess and fail&re go hand in hand0r is s&ccess to e cele rated: and fail&re to e tho&ght as not so grand

The meas&re of s&ccess: where does it stand,o we take into co&nt oth the good and the ad0

We know that victory isn’t


20/21

The Idiot Bo

A rilliant invention: eyond par: a history of years fifty; it’s now called the idioto)

't cannot replace an a&thor’s works on ?%erendi ’: ?Ta ro ane’ and he is !o ertno)eep tight control over kids and self; lest to yo&r home it might creep into like a

fo)%ome have a elief it rings stress relief: ?tis a pop&lar myth dismissed: a mere hoa)

The ho&rs go past; may t&rn into days; for all the ho&rs gone y: co&ld we makegood9ome work’s &ndone; the pot’s roasting: the st&dent: ho&sewife: all lost in themood

A soap opera: a match: a game at prime time; so efore the o) sits the wholerood

(e discreet: ca&tio&s: e pr&dent: e alert: ?ca&se for tho&ght: this is in no way food

(&t there are the good ones: they ring facts; they range from science to economicsearn a o&t rockets lasting off to space: atoms: molec&les: stem cells and ro otics

Tom and 5erry: Woody wood pecker: /opeye: y the world’s est cartoonists The st&dy of the i le: the .od channel: are for the devo&t and the non atheists

*rom the diseased: when the >&estion is asked


21/21

It’s !hristmas

Christmas is coming A new year is in the offing

*amiliar m&sic fills the air't’s &sy: every nook and corner and everywhere

The same old %anta will appear in every mallBntertaining whole families at a time: all ig and small'’ll take o&t the tinsel which last year ' took off the wall'’ll get a Christmas three this time all lit; it’ll e seven feet tall

Christmas cards will e h&ng on the treer placed over the fire place: yes that’s more like me

Tiny gifts placed aro&nd are for kids: they sho&ld feel free To help themselves: then with all of &s: share the happiness and glee

Today when the clock strikes twelve its Christmas world aro&nd*or many it means f&n and frolic &t it also has meaning profo&nd

Try to see eyond the glitter and all that keeps &s earthward o&nd What matters is not 9is physical irth

&t the irth of Christ in o&r hearts for now and ever eyond

Ranjith Embuldeniya - As I See It - A Poetry Collection

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