that monkey

[agith george antony]

that monkey is always with me
irritatingly imitating me
whatever i do,
following me wherever i go,
whether it is daylight or twilight
moon light or midnight…

where does it come from, i know not.
how to get rid of it, i know not
like a genie in a fairy tale
it takes whatever shape pleases him

as tall as a tree, it dwarfs me
as big as a wolf, it scares me
as flat as glass, it teases me
sometimes, visibly invisible
like a ghost, it threatens me

but, he is as attentive as a soldier
when i softly sing or speak
that’s the only times he doesn’t imitate me!
that’s the only times he doesn’t imitate me!

will he be with me
even when i am carried
to the garden of silence!

[Ben Allen]

Hi agith, enjoyed this. No offence intended but is English your native language? Your poetry doesn't read like it's written by an English hand, that's not a detrimental comment, just an observation.

Ben

[Deborahhambrook]

Hi AGA. I was wondering the same as Ben about English as a first language. I am always interested in the different structures, and I think the way you have written this, fits the style of the poem very well. The only thing I wasn't sure about was that you sometimes say -'he', and at other times -'it'. Is this intentional? If it was me, I'd stick to one or the other.

Enjoyed your poem.

Deb x

[agith george antony]

thanks Ben, for your comments. we have more than 29 states in India, and each state has its official language, and the way one person from one state speaks English differs from another guy from another state. So if you feel that my writing doesn't have a feel of "english hand" that rings true!!
warm regards

[agith george antony]

thanks Deborahhambrook for your comments
the use of 'it' in the earlier part, and referring 'it' as 'he' in the last part is intentional as you can see 'it' really irritates me. but in the final part, i accept 'it' as a companion, who follow me unit my death. it basically refers to 'shadow.'
warm regards