Sekhar Roy

The Blue Boy

I knew a little boy once who painted his face blue,

For he was born so different from me and you.

His face looked like just another in the crowd,

But his thoughts had their abode higher than the clouds.

Hidden behind the smoke, sunlight was hard to find

When the tanks used to march the deserted streets.

It was the year 1989 and thus not very kind,

For in some corner of the world, people still were colorblind.

Some places where sunlight shone just bright,

He danced and trotted and played around fearless.

While other childhoods of neighborhoods grew up with fright

The Blue Boy merely chose to see a different sight.

He sang as he walked, of the colors he could see,

For he wanted every soul to listen to his songs,

'The colorful flag fluttered with warmth and glee'.

Wind carried his songs to the world where people were living free.

The mother’s heart was frightened when she heard,

Her little boy was the 'Blue Boy' as they called him in the streets.

For it were still 1989 there and thus not at all kind

But the Blue Boy had a special question in mind.

When his mother caught him down there, he said,

'Why can’t I be blue Mamma? When I can see right?

Why do they need so many colors everywhere?

“If they want it to be just black and white?'
©Samik Bhattacharya 2012

To know more about Sekhar Roy, click on any of his paintings below:

Poetry Writing Contest: 1

Do you love writing poems? Do verses flow from your pen the moment you see a beautiful creation? Does art appeal to your senses? If yes, then this contest is for you.

Ekphrasis India invites poets from across the globe to participate in its first Poetry Writing Contest.

All you need to do is write a poem based on this painting made by our in-house artist Samik Bhattacharya.

The Ten Commandments/ Guidelines:
1. Poems should be written in English. You can also write in vernaculars/other languages, but if you do so, please try and include a translated version alongside.

2. The poem must be based on the given painting. And yes, don't forget to title your poem. Irrelevant entries shall be rejected.

3. Submit your work here - ekphrasis.india@gmail.com Do mention your name, location and other details you would want to share with us.

4. Entries shall be accepted from Tuesday 31st January, 2012 to Wednesday 22nd February. Multiple entries are allowed but late entries shall not be entertained.

5. The Best Poet shall be conferred the title of "Poet of the Month".  He/She shall receive a personalised "winner badge" and also get his/her poem published on Impulse and Vayavya Magazines.

6. Top poems shall be published on Ekphrasis India.

7. Anukriti Sharma, Mihir Vatsa, Samik Bhattacharya and Rahul Sharma shall judge the entries on the basis of creativity, content, and relevance.

8. This contest is open to people from all over the world. We do not discriminate poets on the basis of gender, religion, colour, caste, creed, community, ethnicity etc. Please refrain from writing hateful/discriminatory content.

9. For further queries/questions leave a comment or contact us on - ekphrasis.india@gmail.com We are always happy to help.

10. Free Review! Contestants can now get their poem reviewed by our team. All  you need to do is write"Feedback" or "Review my Poem"  in the subject line. Free review is applicable only to the contestants who follow the guidelines. We might take some time to respond, so please be patient.

All the Best! :)

This is the painting for the Contest:

©  Samik Bhattacharya

Pawan Sharma

Scars
Scarred are my faces

With a generation of lies

Look out of your window

And see how the time flies

We have spoken in silence

But your ears were all deaf

Of the promises you have spoken

And the ones you never kept

I lift my hands today

With a thousand painted faces

Colors that disappreared from them

But the memory itself never erases

The voices that you face today

Are a thousand thunders of fire

Stored from the souls of serene

Deprived of desires

The strength they have driven

From your mockery and satire

Now your voice echo hollow

Of a mere dejected liar

The light has marched the horizons

The dawn is not so far

You will have our promised revolution

From each of the throbbing scars

                                                           ©Samik Bhattacharya 2012

To know more about Pawan Sharma, click on any of his paintings below:

Ajay De

Through your Eyes
Why are your eyes shut tight,

I know you are not sleeping tonight

Wearing your golden tiara

Of dreams that are screaming inside

Time flies draining all the lies

The leaves of memories fall and fade

I just want to lose my way

Right into your sweet serenade

I wish I could grow little wings

To fly away with your little dreams

I would live a million lives

If you let me see through your eyes...

©Samik Bhattacharya 2011

To know more about Ajay De, click on any of his paintings below: