Why, I saw him shake his cloak
and laugh his throwback laugh
on the stage of the city theatre!
saw his coat hanging from a high school prom room
while he sold his books at half price.
His witches chanted: tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,
recording destiny’s time
and picked up the live butt of cigarettes
and flung them in airports in Brussels, Istanbul, Paris and many more.
I heard him strut and claim the ashes
of yesterday’s fools in the Harbours of Pearl and corals.
He sniggers at the fretting players
unknowingly counting their hours
in university halls, nightclubs and bars.
Destiny!
he smiles.
The shrill voices and rolling bodies tell his tales.
He, as always, likes to paint the town Red
and have a glass of blood red wine with fritters
made of teenage fingers.
He sleeps in suburban hotels and comes out at night.
He visits Syria and the prophet’s land to collect his witches.
“Do we need to cull right away Sire?”
Destiny!
his lips curl.
Macbeth is not dead.
Photo Credit
Photo is pixabay public domain
Guest Author Bio
Dr Shruti Das
Dr Shruti Das is Associate professor English in the P.G. Department of English, Berhampur University in Odisha, India. She is a creative writer with poetry published Nationally and Internationally and also a literary critic, writing bilingually in English and her native tongue Odia. She has published two collection of poems named “A Daughter Speaks (2013)” and “Lidless Eyes(2015)” has been published in Anthologies like “Inspired Heart 2″, “Inspired Heart 3”, “Scaling Heights” and “Colours of Refuge” to name a few. She has participated in many Seminars on English language and literature in India and Europe. She is sensitive to social issues, loves to travel and to dream. She loves animals.
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Samita Mishra says
Madam,
Namaskar. Congratulations for this beautiful poem.
The poem is the product of a sensitive poet’s mature reflection on the senseless murder and mayhem around her. It is remarkable in its emotional economy and profuse use of place names all breeding grounds for terrorist outfits like ISIS. The recruits are soldiers of religious fundamentalism who barter away their conscience – the protagonist of the poem sells his books for half their price – to unleash countless murders for an uncertain cause compulsively as Macbeth had done after the murder of Duncan. The Macbeth who sacrificed his humanity_ “milk of human kindness” to be guided by the witches, thereby becoming a compulsive murderer is still alive in these modern agents of terror who are determined to paint the world in red. Ironically, the poet’s utter distrust for such violence is more potent because she has consciously avoided sentimental outbursts against it.
With regards
Samita
Dr Sarojkanta Dash says
The last line makes a summary statement on the state of affairs. The poem is allusive on the issue of ‘blood’ spanning across times and places. Brilliantly written.
Jayasmita Kuanr says
What a beautiful poem! So, lovely. I can picture it in my mind. Ma’m you are an awesome poet. This is really a perfect poem which is written peefectly…
🙂
Jayasmita Kuanr says
*perfectly..
John Casquarelli says
Lovely poem!
SAILENDRA says
BEAUTIFUL POEM.SHRUTI’S MAGIC!
azzeddine says
Beautiful Shruti !
Deepshikha Routray says
Intriguing lines that makes us stop and ponder.
San Lin Tun says
Impressive. Really like the way you compose it.
rada iveković says
Quite masterly writing! And so intriguing. Surprising!
Congratulations and best wishes,
rada iveković
Ramesh Patnaik says
Long live Macbeth and Destiny is the idiot!
Ultimately, it is the protagonist who is smiling, not the Destiny.
Good poem. Congrats!
Jayanthi says
Soul stirring n thought provoking, Shruthi you are indeed a master of words
Sujata Subramanyam says
Grim and punching. Shruti, I doff my hat.
Pooja says
Beautifully written Shruti.I look forward to many more fantastic pieces from you.
AdVijay says
Marvelous,thought provoking and i thoroughly enjoyed reading.. the verses..good work Dr.Shruti Das.. keep writing.. and mesmerize the world..
Vijaya Sidhu says
Very powerfully expressed.
jyotshna swain says
Congratulations drshruti mam.i love ur poem.u had published so many books.we are proud of we.u are an international poet a great writer on human being.u progress in ur life.my best wishes with u.
pabitra mohan bhuyan pmbhuyan60@gmail.com says
What a cast, the age-old living hero, Macbeth, moulded into ! Here he attains a surreal dimension to his real identity. All kudos, Shruti Das
Wilika Asimont says
Amazing……