Treacherously time moves
No haste in her stride
Rules of society and nature
I must abide
…
To make a move in this direction
To walk with my own feet
Would I be able to shake
The dancing of their beat?
…
And when finally time arrives
Everyone be on their way
To think what has really passed
Was just another day
They make me wake up early
When I should be sleeping instead
The sun hasn’t raised his head
But I’m already out of my bed
I go through the motions
Like a ritual, everyday
I dream about the weekends
But they’re always far away
I wish I could find a formula to make myself grow
I won’t be going to school
I won’t be going to school tomorrow
…
All sorts of people fill that place
My friends, they are friendly
The bullies, they all bully
And they all do their jobs so perfectly
Mr. Vain, he is kind
Miss Confused, she is nice
But when I ask them a question
They fill me up with lies
And all sorts of nonsensical stuff, at me, they throw
I won’t be going to school
I won’t be going to school tomorrow
…
There are so many other things
I’d rather be doing
I could go swimming or I could go riding
Or I could be singing or I could be writing
A song, instead of my homework
These numbers are so frightening
I ain’t got dyslexia
But my brain isn’t igniting
Is there some excuse which I could borrow?
I won’t be going to school
I won’t be going to school tomorrow
…
Mom and dad want me to suffer
Like they used to do
They say that it’s a virtue
I should pass on to my kids too
But I ain’t so keen on children
Neither am I on a wife
Don’t know how they’re related
I just wanna live my life
It’s hard to complete myself when they’re having a row
I won’t be going to school
I won’t be going to school tomorrow
…
The whole thing is a waste
The whole thing is a scam
They want me to be like them
They don’t like who I am
They tie a collar around our neck
Then they teach us to be free
They teach us how to make money
They teach us how to be
When they should be teaching us how to be happy or face sorrow
I won’t be going to school
I won’t be going to school tomorrow
Like every beautiful queen who is crowned
Like every last glimmer of hope that is drowned
Like every question that runs aground
Into your chains he shall be bound
…
Like every drop that appears to be blue
Like every little God you turned into a part of you
Like every light that races with its sound
Into your chains he shall be bound
…
Like a forgotten warrior on his death-bed
Lying in a pool of sinister red
Like every fellow’s face that has ever frowned
Into your chains he shall be bound
…
Like every catterpillar who turns
Into a butterfly and learns
That not everything that is lost can be found
Into your chains he shall be bound
…
Like every leaf that blows west
Like every secret inside your chest
Like the silent moon, ugly and round
Into your chains he shall be bound
…
May your guilts be chased by a hound
And hushes and whispers be heard all around
Until all your sins begin to compound
Into your chains he shall be bound
Cold and empty street
Snow burying my feet
But the homes are filled with lights
And they brightly glow
I peep through a window
To see a family laughing away the night
…
To see their merry joy
Turns me into a little boy
Who is lost somewhere deep inside my heart
I forget the cold
As I crouch and behold
Two kids and their parents playing with darts
…
The pa, he notices me
But pretends not to see
Thinking I will go away on my own
But I stood still
Much against his will
And the dissatisfaction on his face had grown
…
And with another frown
He pulled the curtains down
And left me staring at a blank space
So I knocked at the door
Just to make sure
If there was anything wrong with my face
…
The man did agree
And said I ought not to be
Disturbing them in their merry time
I didn’t like the tone of his voice
He left me with no choice
I had to punish him for his crime
…
Before he could get a hold
I knocked him out cold
And slammed the door firmly behind me
The ma, she gave a cry
And picked up a phone to try
To call the cops and tell them about me
…
So I picked up a knife
And went for her life
Piercing her through and through
The kids hadn’t learned
A lesson they had earned
And they began to scream too
…
I just couldn’t wait
To deal them with the same fate
I couldn’t see them growing up like I had
So I struck them too
What else could I do?
They were destined to end up dead
…
But I did spare the man
Left him unconscious and then
Thought it was best if he was left to regret
All that he had done
When he woke up under the sun
And saw the fate that his family had met
…
But I wasn’t yet done
Before I took a run
Wrapped my hands around all the gold
It was as much as I deserved
For the treatment they reserved
For an innocent man who stood out in the cold
Stones have left a lasting scar
Left my bones as they are
When all I was seeking was a golden quill
To fill my life’s empty pages
With words of servants and sages
Looking for a message and a void to fill
Doors have opened and closed
People have smiled and posed
But not a single reflection I can see in this pond
So I picked up my bag and my hat
Travelled on these legs that
Have taken me to places like heaven and beyond
Where wages are paid and roses are grown
But in the company of Gods, I’ve felt all alone
For there is no place like my sweet home
…
Looked up and saw the stars burn
Looked down waiting for my turn
To meet folks who’d help me build my own wings
And when my time finally did come
They grinned and led me to become
Nothing more than one of them tied to their strings
And those folks were passionate
About every personal trait
And everyone else was quite equally fond
So I picked up my bag and my hat
Travelled further with these feet that
Have taken me to places like heaven and beyond
Where wars are declared and arrows are flown
But in the company of Gods, I’ve felt all alone
For there is no place like my sweet home
…
In the middle of a suburban crowd
I screamed my name out loud
And absolutely nobody did return a word
But a few necks did turn around
And looked disturbed at the sound
As if their position was grossly erred
One of them looked too cute
While another played her flute
And I’ve heard that they shared a bond
But my memory isn’t as strong as I am
Haven’t heard a word about them
Ever since I’ve been to places like heaven and beyond
Where all kinds of creatures at me were thrown
But in the company of Gods, I’ve felt all alone
For there is no place like my sweet home
Pick her from her home
Is she is all alone?
If she screams and shout
Just pull her hair and drag her out
Bring her out so all can see
What a characterless woman she’s turned out to be
Be ready with your sticks
She’s a little over sixty six
Today we’ll teach her a lesson
And we won’t rest till it’s done
…
The people have gathered here
But nobody will shed a tear
As you are tied to a tree
And pray helplessly to be free
Shave off her head
Let her cry till she gets mad
But only shave it in half
So the kids can have a laugh
Today we’ll teach her a lesson
And we won’t rest till it’s done
…
A real shame for our village
She’s looking for love at this age
And that too with an immoral man
Whose wife hung herself on a ceiling fan
What a bad influence for our daughters
But we’ll spare her the slaughter
We’ll let her live
We’ll let her grieve
We’ll teach her a lesson until
She stops blaming it all on the rumour mill
The lights are falling out every instance
Every wound has an owner in you and me
Dreams are filled with ghosts and growing distance
But sleep is my only remedy
…
All my painful thoughts are concentrated
Days have slowly turned into years
All this healing is anticipated
My cries are falling on empty ears
…
I cannot foresee what fate has in store
Silence plays a soulful melody
I’m bleeding words like never before
These scars have left behind a memory
So many years it took to build, I don’t remember
Each one of us needs a shelter to stay in
From the miserable January to the cold December
Where there’s none to judge or nothing to lose or win
…
These walls don’t let anyone across, not even sunshine
More often than not, it gets quite dark in here
There’s none to share it with except an empty bottle of wine
Which is nothing more than just a metaphor for my hollow fears
…
The cracks are a representation of my failed efforts
But there’s no one here to rate me with stars
All the worldly knowledge provides me with dark comforts
For light does nothing but open up these scars
…
Maybe someday these walls will come down
Who knows if it will be heaven or hell?
Till then I’ll wear this thorny crown
Till then I’ll retreat in my shell
Now the roads are all deserted
What else can they be?
I’m walking this way alone
You’re not coming with me
Every light and sound has vanished
There’s nothing here to see
Even the moon has found a hiding place
Loneliness stings like a bee
The birds have found a shelter
In a mighty yet random tree
I can hear my own footsteps
While my shadow wishes to be free
All the faces are forgotten
I’m left with no memory
I’m tired of monologues
Tell me a different story
But I do remember how we used to
Discuss politics over a cup of tea
And you would also tell me tales about
This planet becoming a sea
Life isn’t my speciality
I know I’ve performed badly
I refuse to do whatever you ask me to
And I refuse you gladly
Now the roads are all deserted
What else can they be?
I’m walking this way alone
You’re not coming with me
There’s a ghost in my head
Beyond my control
I think he writes poems
Frank Solanki 