Chasing Fish

Kites flying high, chasing fish in sidewalk drains
Running around the house shouting stupid slogans
Driving around a single wheel Mercedes, along the parapet of my terrace
Picking mangoes of the neighbors groves, playing mama’s boy when the sun goes down
There was never enough to do, but never any more to achieve
Never once a day that started without smiles or one that ended without tears;
But when the night fell quiet, tucked into my bed, sleep overwhelmed me like there was no morrow
Looking back mate, I would trade all of tomorrow, and most of today for one yesterday
Can you, lord, sent me back to being a child?
Someone sang, freedom’s just another word for nothing left to loose,
I say, freedom’s just another word when there is nothing left to do
Guess, setting out with a planned tomorrow, and a reviewed today, has made me far from free
Can you, lord, with an open sail, set me back on trail, to gently float to a never-ever land, today?

Exploring though the paddy fields, I came across a place
With waterfalls, and tadpole swims, some rays reflecting off
All it was, was a gentle stream, with a bund at its edge
But for my little brain, was the paradise my dad spoke of in early morning prayers
For all my days as a little boy, I kept going back
To the paradise, to this never-ever land, my secret freedom place
But now, guess, some stones have crushed my little tadpole swims
For I see a new habitation to have overwhelmed my secret land
A kid skips and hops in their courtyard, hope he finds on my behalf a new freedom place
Looking ahead mate, I guess, yester will never come back; all I do is, wait for this act to pass
Can you, lord, sent me back to being just a child?
Someone sang, freedom’s just another word for nothing left to loose,
I say, freedom’s just another word when there is no more air to breath
Guess, looking ahead, looking forward to a life of emptiness is all we do
Chasing fish within a huge glass bowl, like fools we look to God
So lord, with an open sail, set me back on trail, to gently float to a never-ever land, today?

Sitting at my balcony, staring at these kids, playing, running to nowhere
I feel happy to see someone keeping up the legacy, of being just a child
So I grow old, and leave this trail, someone picks up dust
To leave a trail for someone new, and the world just goes around
So lord, here I am, stepping out to a busy day, with plans in my head, and a destination to reach
But, promise me to pull me out, and set me back on sail, to gently float to a never-ever land
With nowhere to go, and no days to count!

Dannie John
4-Dec-2010

Live

A refugee in my own land
An orphan among my own people
When will I see the bright blue sky?
When will this rain stop?
A trickle it starts, then oozes out,
Bullets, blood and bath from above
Living through this night
Waiting for the Sun, that never comes
I have learned to dream, to hope, to live!

Dannie John
28-Oct-2010

Song of agony, of pain and loss

Far, far away, there is a place called happiness
Far away from these beautiful hills
From the mountain springs
From the cuckoo songs
And the misty woods

Beneath my feet are gold and more
Visitors here chasing ore
Saviors many, spreading lore
Master, but why do you make me sore
cause all that glitters, don’t surely soar

All that has risen is pain and agony
Behind my home were woods of ebony
Today I look like them, all bony
My eye’s are full, my belly all empty
Wasted for all, and almost loony

I am all but a few years into my life
Been through lot, sadness rife
Through many a crime, so many time
Is there a God? Come save my life
Before these saviors snatch it off

In this tussle, I have lost my youth
Minister, do you have no kids?
My saviors make their kids to kill
Visitors need to bloat their kids
Why in my own home, I do not count

I stand at this foothills, and cry aloud
My land of honey, of laughter, of tears
This land where my father tilled,
Has all over his blood spilled;
And today my land has shunted us out

Sadly, I sing,
Far, far away, there is a place called happiness
Far away from these beautiful hills
From the mountain springs
From the cuckoo songs
And these misty woods

Dannie John
13-Aug-2010

Last Breath of Innocence

Nice dream
Kind Miracles
Carpets over the clouds
Castles in the sky
Feet kissing the grass
Arms swinging as I swing along
Nice Dream, Kind Miracles
Eyes shut, looking up to the skies
Hair let loose, flying, keeping up
If there were dreams, I would have dreamt
If there were miracles, I would have lived

Nice dream, Kind miracles
Oh, help me stay put in my life
Saviors snatching away my last toy
Handing over complex ones
My mama’s bosom changed to a reddened ravage
Certain directions convoluted to pipe dreams
My land, my history traded in spirited bourses
Could I just play? Be a normal brat
Or fight? Oh, fight I did,
My trigger flushing out a dozen fountains
Falling a thousand men, and me
Arms swinging as I fall alone
Eyes shut, looking up to the skies
Hair let loose, flying, keeping up
If there were dreams, I would have dreamt
If there were miracles, I would have lived

Dannie John
12-8-2010

Alone

My eyes are open and see the crowd around
Sure, I can hear the chit-chat, and the rumble
Many a face seem familiar, some strange
Hand-shakes all around, burst of laughter sudden
Familiar crowd, and amidst friends
I should be at home, and at peace

My eyes are closed, though open they seem
And I can hear nothing but the sound of silence
Faces don’t seem to matter, they are not complete anyway
Nothing around connected, nothing seemed to exist
Familiar crowd and amidst friends
I am alone, as always.

Dannie John
4-Mar-2010

To you!

To spend time with you
To be in your arms
To cuddle up
To play pillow fight
And to fall into your lap when tired
To kiss
To caress
To love
To fight
To hold you tight
To hold your hands
To look at the moon
To laugh,
Let us go and dwell in the villages,
In the vineyards, let us make love
Let the dewdrops of the dawn drip into our beings
As we lay lazy, naked under the vines
Let the first rays of sunshine, pierce the chill of our bodies
And bring in warmth to our entangled posture
My love, to you this ode
My heart aches, every moment far away from you
My soul quenches for your nearness
Let us go
Let us go away
To a place far away
Away from our daily chores
Breaking away the strings that chain us
To a place where it is only you and me
To the valley of hope
Of love
And honey
Let us see each other
Let us feel each other
And then, will I proclaim my love for you
Standing up on the rocks, will I shout out!
My love, there is nothing better in life
Than these moments spent with you
The trees will node in agreement
The sun will shine in acquiescence
All nature will bow, and make way for us
My love, to you this ode
Let us go
Let us go to place where no one knows us
Where we are but strangers in a strange land
The only node of recognition, is between our hearts
And then will my heart reach out to yours
And then will ours souls become one
And then will I take you in my arms
Oh my love, to you this ode
Let us go
Let us go
Let us go!

Dannie John, to his beloved, 2-Feb-2010

Ecstasy's Locks

Floyd's floating up in the air
Spirits have chained me to my chair
Chimney’s galore all around me
Heaven's passage seemed totally free

Neon lights and rays of gloom
Accompanied the music of bloom
Chords of glory and beats of irreverence
Reverberated in our empty resistance

Giving into thy strong willed hold
Johnny, to thee we are but sold
As smoke fogged our eyes and soul
Strings strained in melody’s call

Ash spilling over my fingers
Listening to great rock singers
A glass of malt on the rocks
And I finally break open ecstasy’s locks

Dannie John
31-Jan-10

Color of Red

I see it in his eyes
I see it when they fall
In the blood spilled over petty claims
In the slit of evil lies
Through the mortar shells, and the wicked pen
I see it within, I see it without
When an Innocent falls, and a war is won.

I see it in her lips
I see it in the red rose bud
In the air around, in shy crescendo
On her cheeks, the innocent kiss
Through the pretty gifts and the loving pen
I see it in my heart
When one falls in love and a life is won.

I see it at creation
And at destruction
I see it in rings exchanged
I see it when all have changed
I see it in the new born smile
I see it at the last flame
When all is gained, but the love is lost.

Oh, color of red,
Such an uninvited guest
Loved by all, despised the same
What an apt beginning, what an apt end
I see it around me at dawn
And when the sun sets;
When one day dies, and another takes birth.

Dannie John
16-Jan-10

Step Out

Step out and look at the blue sky above, feel the cool wind brushing against your cheek, look at the leaves withering from the trees around, the stars trying to hide under the clouds, the darkness of the night, the light at dawn, feel it, see it. See the world as it was meant to be. Go for a swim in a near by river, or climb to the top of misty hill. See the dew drops. See through them the beauty of life beyond. The wet bamboo or the birds chirping around. Look at the kids in the near by field. Chasing a paper-ball or flying a stitched up kite. See life in their eyes, living through the sweat. Pick up an old rattled cycle, the good old’ buddy and go across the country side. Take your hands off the handle as you speed down an incline. Breath in. The cool air. Chase the rain. Get wet. Splash mud around. Go fishing. Catch tadpoles instead. Feel the love of life around. Of that can talk or otherwise. The connection you find in your dog’s eyes. The touch of the little finger. The warmth in your loved one’s arms.

Ash spilled over my fingers and my skin burned. As I close my eyes and just enjoy the darkness instead.

Step out.

Dannie John
12-Jan-2010