IMAGE OF EARTH AND QUILL

Guest Poet Arjun Purkayastha



Sadness

He took a walk
To the beach
And stood alone
On the sea shore
The salty spray
Hitting him in the face
The pungent wind
Turning his hair
Into waves
Slowly
It began to drizzle
He remained unmoved
And stared straight ahead
Watching the sun set
Behind the haze
And the waves
His hands in his pockets
He rocked gently
To the rhythm
Of the sea
His hair now contrasted
The sea
Flattened by the drizzle
It dripped
And added
To the drops
That fell around him
His face
Spoke of a sadness
That was deep
Tears rolled down
His cheeks
But went unnoticed
As they mingled
With the rain
And the sea spray
In a pool
Of sentimentality
Soon it was dark
And the rain stopped
But the sea roared
And he stood there
Like a rock
Drenched
With tear stained cheeks


February, 1999


Arjun Purkayastha's Questions:

I feel that there is something that I have missed out in the poem and I don't know what it is, I would like you to point out what you think is missing and what should be there.

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you read the poem (taking the imagery into account)?

What do you think this poem is actually about and why?

Any other comments on the work are most welcome.


Correspond with Arjun Purkayastha at
arjunpurky@bigfoot.com
with your ideas about this poem.



The Albany Poetry Workshop