Nissim Ezekiel

There is a place to which I often go,
Not by planning to, but by a
Away from all existence, to a
Lucidity, whose will is uncontrolled.

In my room,
I talk to my invisible guests: they do not argue, but wait Till I am exhausted, then they slip away with inscrutable faces.
I lack the means to change their amiable ways, although I love their gods.
It's the language…

Remember me?
I am Professor Sheth.
Once I taught you geography.
NowI am retired, though my health is good.

I am standing for peace and non-violence.
Why world is fighting
Why all people of
Are not following Mahatma Gandhi

This normative hilllike all othersis transparently accessible,out thereand in the mind,not to be missedexcept in peril of one's life.
Do not muse on itfrom a distance:it's not remotefor the view only,it's for the sportof climbing.
What…

Her mother shed a tear or two but wasn't reallycrying.
It was the thing to do, so she did itenjoying every moment.
The bride laughed when Isympathized, and said don't be silly.
Her brothrs had a shoe of mine and made me payto get…

To force the pace and never to be
Is not the way of those who study
Or women.
The best poets wait for words.

I remember the night my motherwas stung by a scorpion.
Ten hoursof steady rain had driven himto crawl beneath a sack of rice.
Parting with his poison - flashof diabolic tail in the dark room -he risked the rain again.
The peasants…