Definitive Me

by Dilip Mohapatra (November 2015)

Earth in my body

an inheritance and a legacy

is but a small scoop

from the lithosphere.

 

Sea in my blood

swells and subsides

in harmony with the tidal rhythm

sometimes to ebb and

sometimes to overwhelm.

 

Fire in my belly

fanned by the winds in my breath

my propulsive prime mover

smoulders and simmers

but leaps into occasional

flames towering into infernos

spewing hot molten lava.

 

The skies in my eyes

with endless and limitless

aspirations and hopes

urge me to reach the stars

light years away beyond the Milky Way

cruising through

the cosmic chasms and black holes.

 

The vast expanse of space

the boundary less infinity

embedded within

the limits of my finite skin

makes my soul expand

to fill up the vacuum

and swim to the surface

and spread out

as a glistening sun glides

on the eternally unending waves.

 

 

_____________________________

Dilip Mohapatra (b.1950), a decorated Navy Veteran started writing poems since the seventies. His poems have appeared in many literary journals of repute worldwide. Some of his poems are included in the World Poetry Yearbook, 2013 and 2014 Editions. He has three poetry collections to his credit, the latest titled Another Look recently published by Authorspress India. His fourth book P2P nee Points to Ponder is a departure from his poetic passion and is a collection of his musings on various themes which are meant to act as points in a mariner’s compass helping the reader to navigate his life better in rough waters. He holds two masters degrees, in Physics and in Management Studies. He lives with his wife in Pune. His website may be accessed at dilipmohapatra.com.

 

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