Saturday, February 13, 2021

A POEM BY U.N. NOHN BATCHMATE

THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT-  By A. Nonis Muss

An ethereal being,

The fairest of them all,at medical school,

A glittering star,

Beyond the pale

Of us mere mortals.

 

Now she is sitting beside me,

In a dreary classroom

In a dreary city,

On a dreary winter’s day.

 

A warm tenderness suffuses me,

A soft caress,

A shy smile,

A sweet whisper,

All fleeting,

But to me,timeless

Is it a dream ,a fantasy?

 

That night at the party,

She is a moonbeam,

Amid the forest of florid females,

Overcome I  mumble you are beyond compare,

A gentle smile of assent.

 

Let’s go to your room she says,

We sit in silence ,holding hands,

Outside,in the stillness of the night,

Snowflakes litter the sky

Suddenly,

Her face flushed,bosom heaving,

She pulls out a picture,

My son,I miss him so much

A mother’s counsel

Rings in my ears,

You must be pure always,

Like a Buddha to be.

 

We walk slowly to her room ,

The forbidden fruit ,

Unsullied.

31 comments:

  1. This poem is beautiful as it is erotic. The poet had bared his soul with honesty. He has used such evocative words, carefully chosen to convey his inner feelings. Poems are like works of art. When the artist creates a story on a canvas we must unravel its beauty and give it time and careful thought to unravel its legend. Often what authors include in an entire book the poets write in a few carefully chosen lines and artists create with brushes and paint on a single canvas. He has brilliantly used the power of poetry to captured the warmth and the fiery passions of a beautiful evening. Is it a dream, an illusion or reality? To be published as anonymous adds to its mystery. It also appears there has been a certain reluctance to release the poems and perhaps is a true story. Perils and naughtiness of the “forbidden fruit” has tormented humans since the beginning of time. Flings, affairs and infidelity have retained its interest, intrigue and magic. The word forbidden conjures up something clandestine, furtive or even improper. But we now live in a more liberal climate and they were consenting adults. There will always be readers who will read between the lines trying to best guess who, when and where this occurred. I am happy to enjoy the beauty of the poetry wishing them well in the hope they will have the good fortune to meet again. The poet is an excellent exponent in the fine art of poetry. Amidst his rasping denials there will be a murky smile.

    This reminds me so much of that black and white film of 1945 “Brief encounter” expertly directed by David Lean brilliantly written by Noel Coward. This was the immediate post war period when the British middle-class values were changing, but slowly. Adultery was still a dirty word only expressed hush hush in dark corners. This film is a British masterpiece starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. It is a haunting love story that has been judged the best romantic film of all time. It is a tale of a chance meeting at a railway station of a doctor and a lady passenger. Was the friendship consummated? I will let you to enjoy the film and find out for yourself. David Lean has captured the passions and emotions of the story by selecting Rachmaninov’s the classic piano concerto No 2 to be played all through the film. I have watched the Brief encounter many times to appreciate the sheer mastery of film making listening to Rachmaninov. This is now etched in nostalgia as I watched it last on the 23rd floor of an apartment block in Hong Kong with several glasses of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, minus the hanky-panky!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Nihal,
      Your comment is equally beautiful as the poem.In fact it is a mini masterpiece.
      I will definitely watch Brief Encounter; there is a newer version with Sophia Loren and Richard Burton in YouTube.I will watch both.Any film with either of them merits a look see!! You have the right idea;have a glass or two or three of a good wine.My taste these days runs to a single malt.There was a time when I would curl up with a choice cognac and a fat cigar;dropped the cigar a long while ago.
      I have just accessed the blog.Long May it last !!!

      Delete
    2. Really pleased to see you back Kumar. I noticed that Lucky too has been able to access and comment. I do hope the blog access problem has been resolved. Unfortunately it was beyond our control.

      Sophia Loren, Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, Peter Sellers, Audrey Hepburn and a few more are screen stars whose mere presence is sufficient for me to want to watch a film.

      Delete
    3. For all the Sophia Loren fans, she stars in a new touching movie "The Life Ahead" directed by her son Eduardo Ponti. It is in Italian with English subtitles and available on Netflix. I love her, because she believes in aging gracefully! She eschews all kinds of cosmetic surgery. She looks wonderful at almost 90 years!

      Delete
  2. Nihal has most eloquently expressed his view on this apparently confessional poem written by one of our mates. It is poetry at its best. We are left with just a teasing glimpse of a life event of much significance to the poet, assuming this is not totally fictional of course.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mahen
    Thanks
    I have looked for incriminating evidence - there is none. I do admire his courage for going online. The Blog needed a who dunnit to wake up the masses and whatever else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nihal and Mahen, I agree with you both. This is brilliant poetry which creates a mood and paints a visual image in one's mind. I particularly liked the lines "She is a moonbeam amid the forest of florid females." Vivid alliteration! Now is this shy poet planning to reveal himself? (I'm assuming it is a 'He'). It is very appropriate for Valentine's Day, today.
    Nihal I will have to check out "Brief Encounter" one of these days.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I watched Brief encounter on YouTube, the full movie. It was incredibly, incredibly sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The caption "Brief encounter" is a fine description of the story. As you may recall David Lean directed "Doctor Zhivago" and introduced "Lara's theme" as its theme music which captured the ups and downs of the lives of the main players so beautifully.

      Delete
  6. A beautiful poem, whoever the author is.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hidden author possesses similar talents similar to that of Nihal. Srianne, Zita, Rohini and one and only, Speedy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bunter, Thank you for alerting me to this poem which I consider poetry at its best -
    A gamut of deep emotions and inhibitions expressed concisely with few well chosen words- imaginative, intriguing, elegant and subtly erotic with beautiful imagery -The alliterations did amuse me !
    A.Noni Muss -A classy poem -Thank you.
    Rohini

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rohini, great to see you back here! You mentioned to me in a message that A. Nonis Muss reminded you of Nazim Hikmet, the
      Turkish poet known for the "lyrical flow of his statements."
      (I confess, I had to look him up!) I agree with you that our bashful batch mate has a very special talent. I hope that he (most likely, a 'he') will write some more for our reading pleasure.

      Delete
    2. Rohini,
      Your eloquence exceeds that of the poet.He will cherish your comments and no doubt be grateful ,that his poem has found such a cultured readership.
      I’m making hay while the sun shines i.e while I can still access the blog.
      Nizam Hikmet is one of my favourite poets.Rohini and Srianee,you must read “ The most beautiful sea hasn’t been crossed yet.”
      As Mahen says it is poetry at its best.
      Kumar

      Delete
  9. Rohini
    So lovely to have you back. Trust you take your walks down Tamaki Drive appreciating the beauty of Mission Bay in the summer sunshine.
    We hear Auckland is on lockdown again. Take care and be safe.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rohini, it is so lovely to see you back on the Blog. Your comments are always incisive and worthy of thought. I trust you are doing your best to adapt and please do comment when you feel like it. All the best. Mahen

    ReplyDelete
  11. Our friends in Sri Lanka are experiencing intermittent problems accessing the blog. This is a problem related to Internet Service Providers in Sri Lanka Let us hope it would be resolved soon. It applies to all blogs and just ours.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Three times in a row I was successful! Hope the fourth time will also be the same.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you all for being so welcoming and kind in your comments.
    Kumar, When I ‘think Hikmet’ the lines that immediately surface in my mind are what you have suggested. These words in my mind are virtually synonymous with Hikmet.

    “The most beautiful sea
    hasn't been crossed yet.
    The most beautiful child
    hasn't grown up yet.
    Our most beautiful days
    we haven't seen yet.
    And the most beautiful words I wanted to tell you
    I haven't said yet...”

    Why these few lines enthrall me as they do I cannot understand . They have an ethereal and untangible quality to them that others may not see.
    Words in the right sequence have a way of taking one to another realm of joy, wonder and elation. This is how I felt as I read the artistic constructs of A.Noni Muss’ poem as well as Nihal’s classic first comment .
    Thank you for the “sunshine” as I still struggle to figure what is real and what is not !

    ReplyDelete
  14. Rohini and Kumar, your comments on this blog have spurred me on to read poetry for pleasure. Poetry is so much more mysterious than prose and one can interpret a poem in so many different ways. When I read the lines that you have quoted above, Rohini, I wonder if the the poet is writing about his anxiety or his anticipation of the future? Is he writing about gathering up courage to express his true feelings to someone? Or is he someone on his deathbed writing about the afterlife? I don't know...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Srianee,
      What you say of interpretation is very true -
      Taken in isolation, this poem could lend itself to any of the three interpretations you’ve wondered about - It could even be interpreted as a romantic declaration to a ‘true love’!
      However it is none of these !
      Briefly - Hikmet was born in Turkey and spent most of his adult life as a political prisoner in his homeland owing to his communist beliefs.
      These lines were written as part of a patriotic poem “ Human Landscapes from my Country” from within the walls of his prison , expressing his longing and vision for a better world and homeland with social justice and equality .
      He continued to be persecuted after his release from prison and spent the last 13 years of his life exiled in Russia .
      Here’s a link for more interesting information-

      https://glli-us.org/2020/11/17/literature-of-exile-nazim-hikmet-and-human-landscapes-from-my-country/

      Delete
  15. Iam sorry Srianee- your first interpretation of “anticipation of the future “ would be right.
    Kumar who suggested we read this might have more to add .

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rohini, thanks for the link. I will have to get my hands on the epic poem "Human Landscapes from my Country" and read it sometime.
    I was struck by the lines in the article

    "They sell the country with one hand
    and write about patriotism with the other.
    What do these bastards know about love of country?
    Love of what country?" and I thought "somethings never change!"
    Thanks for the introduction to Hikmet.

    ReplyDelete
  17. At last, the blog seems to be working for Sri Lankans.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Rohini and Srianee
    Being a romantic my feeling is that Nizam Hikmet is talking of an undeclared love.
    You two refined LC gimrls may not have heard the crude poets in our medical school,
    lament “Machang I’m in bull love ,but the girl doesn’t know”.The same sentiment !!!
    You may like this quote from Pablo Neruda.
    I love you without knowing how,
    or when or from where.
    I love you simply without problems or pride;
    I love you in this way because I don’t know any other way of loving.”
    How I wish I had this eloquence in my youth.!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Kumar, if it is any comfort, it was not just the guys who suffered from unrequited love!!

      Delete
  19. With all this poetic stuff going on, I thought of sharing three short poems written by my Polish Poet friend, Magdalena.
    why would that house
    Magdalena Podobińska

    Why would that house
    always be there
    waiting…..
    it’s so familiar
    the life I haven’t lived

    Your silence

    your silence
    is chilly as
    the moon
    your silence
    isn't cool

    You never really knew me

    you never really knew me
    and now I'm sleeping
    cuddled under those yellow
    leaves find me
    discover me please

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mahen, those are very pithy verses. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Another 5 line poem (this is a Polish style)

    The world is like

    Thin porcelain
    Straight from the oven
    It cools
    Perhaps it will not crack

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi, Kumar, I have been a silent lover of a few damsels in our batch, but lost few chances for good.

    ReplyDelete