Flickers of a Conscience – Glosa

Posted on by Reena Saxena

The chosen poem is from a book “All We Have” by Sarabjeet Garcha.

THE CABREZA

From where should we look to taste the whole truth?
Every move is yet another enterprise in futility
Like stones sunk in rivers we wait to become light
Like flickers dreamt by someone not on earth or even outside

All We Have … By Sarabjeet Garcha

THE GLOSA

peeling onions makes eyes water, till I dive in
-stories within stories; words on pages; meaning in words
changing form, glistening like truth in a new light
overshadowing shadows that challenge authentic
tastebuds awakening with the flavour of fried onions
who cares if tears flowed; which layer sacrificed youth
they have a preference for big or small, pink or white
there are markets to cater to each taste spread wide
gourmet food with visual appeal; being fried looks smooth
From where should we look to taste the whole truth?

I uninstall opinion shops in media markets
each vying to sell venom at astronomical price
refinement weeps, jailed behind macabre masks
labelled as flattery, force-stripped of dignity
-poison infused in vials that promise to heal
sharpen resistance to truth; vaccinate vulnerability
tear-gassed crowds abandon freedom quests
mingle with the majority to escape detection
suffocated voices squeak, then lose identity
Every move is yet another exercise in futility

between the dome of the sky and the air we breathe
we look for outlets in aether to carry our voice
Hope drives us to search for gods in exile
They luxuriate in purity; devoid of unity
Each holding a banner fashioned for eternity
Stars competing with the moon to shine bright
A psychopath sun burns the sky with ambition
blazing paths of glory to destinations unclean
clouds holding secrets liquefied with its might
Like stones sunk in rivers we wait to become light

boats loaded with narratives sail over our bodies
someone declares greatness but has no feet
giant balloons in the sky filled with stinking deceit
oars like spears pierce those on the fence
join us or perish – the message reverberates
buoyed by fear, we float on the high tide
there was a dream, there was an ideology
it haunts us in the dark, from shores afar
We push it away and swallow our pride
Like flickers dreamt by someone not on earth or even outside

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29 thoughts on “Flickers of a Conscience – Glosa”

  1. ‘…I uninstall opinion shops in media markets
    each vying to sell venom at astronomical price…’

    Glosa appears to be a very challenging form of poetry, Reena. I don’t think it’s hard for you. Your words flow beautifully to convey your thoughts. You blended the original poem and your version superbly. I had to read it several times, though.

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  2. Pingback: Reena’s Xploration Challenge #415 – Creative Experiments and More

  4. I respect the difficult and time it took to write this. And you did a very amazing job, I like the cleverness of these lines, “oars like spears pierce those on the fence
    join us or perish – the message reverberates
    buoyed by fear, we float on the high tide
    there was a dream, there was an ideology
    it haunts us in the dark, from shores afar
    We push it away and swallow our pride.”
    Sadly ironic that we just celebrated MLK day.
    Great job, you hit this one out of the park

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  5. This is my first encounter with a glosa poem, and it was a very enjoyable read, Rena. I read the glosa is designed to blend the voice of the original poet with the voice of the new poet, often resulting in a, , personal, , , and reflective piece that showcases both, technical skill and, , deep, , appreciation for literature. 

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