IMAGES OF THE RI KHASI
                    POETRY 5

 
 
 
Donboklang Ryntathiang.
 
Born in Shillong in 1976, he is also the bass guitarist of a local rock band, Snow White. He is at present, Lecturer in English at Seng Khasi College, Shillong. 

 
 
DONCULA 

For God so loved the world the He gave 
His only begotten son... 
Yesterday, I was late as usual 
My girlfriend was waiting for me. 
She had given me a card where 
She had scratched: "How are you nowadays? 
Lots to tell you about mine." 
I tried to kiss her, 
She said she was scared. 
Parthenogenetic beauty! 
Later, I visited my friend 
Who usually buys underwear that 
Would later sag after a third wash, 
I began to tease, mock him. 
Smiling at me, he pulled down his jeans and 
Threw his cheap underwear out of the window, 
He was high. 
I left him knowing that he would later 
Map his bedsheet with piss. 
Mr. Dangling underwear! 
Aka Mr. Underwear Nowhere! 
I then visited a girl who twice gave me 
The 'just do it' signal. 
I had a bottle of rum 
With her and then she kissed me goodnight 
And whispered: "You can do it to me." 
I went home drunk, 
I slithered, stole my way into the house, 
And dreamt about God whipping a mosquito 
For tasting Christ's blood. 
" Long live Christ! 
Master, whip his back, clip his wings", 
Cried the angels. 
This morning I woke up and remembered 
Ghalib's lines: " The joy of intoxication 
Is not worth the suffering of a hangover." 
He does not know me. 
I looked at the wall and saw the writing: 
"A great beauty lies in simplicity". 
Next to a poster of Ozzy Osbourne. 
On the table there was a novel titled 
Love to Lick by an anonymous writer. 
I remembered my parthogenetic beauty, 
Mr. Underwear Nowhere, and the 'just do it' girl. 
"Don!", shouted my pimple-squeezing servant, 
"The phone, its for you." 
Picking up the phone, I learnt 
That Mr. Underwear Nowhere was dead. 
He had gotten out of bed and looked for me. 
He wanted to drop me home, his brothers told me. 
He fell down the stairs and never got up. 
Now, no resurrection. 
I want to go and touch him. 
I want to carve the words "Jesus Christ" on his back 
And taste his blood. 
I am the mosquito. 
You smile, ah, you're just like me. 
My friends call me Doncula, 
I don't mind, 
But let me tell you this- 
Give me cards, kiss me goodnight, 
I'll admit your generous, you're horny; 
Give me blood, 
I will admit that you love me. 

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