Sonali Ray
Dreams! Anyone?
I’m a dream seller, I trade dreams
I stay here is this hamlet with my grandchild
it’s sandy and quite impoverished
but they happily buy the dreams, for it’s their need.
The wars have ruined our lives
in this barren soil, every day we are battling to thrive
the days are scary and the nights sleepless
but now, even she learnt to overcome her strife.
—
A penny a lie, that is the deal
yet occasionally my heart shudders gauging the crime
a lie soothes their heart and provides us with a day’s meal
but in solace when I look in the mirror, I see my hands smeared in grime.
—-
crystal ball, parrot forecast, tarot cards,
everything I possess, but the choice is theirs
a cup filled with their past, a teaspoon of prophecy
a drizzle of some lies and the magic potion is ready to share.
—
Trust me, I wasn’t a liar always
but a farmer enjoying his sunset days
it is the war that killed my wife
and they kept my daughter as their slave.
—-
The little girl never saw her father
somewhere in the ruins his soul still lay crumpled
broken, we left that cursed land in search of a life
here I sell hopes that are sometimes garbled.
—-
I tell her lies too, her mama will return someday,
and the silly girl heartily believes my salty lies
every night I fill her eyes with a world full of cheerful dreams
though she sleeps in peace I can hear her silent cries.
—-
To the world, I sell lies to earn a fortune
but my lips tremble when her eager eyes gaze at me
I don’t know, how long this will continue
But the burden of lying to her will someday, surely kill me.
—-
Till then, every night when the world sleeps
we two sit by the fire and count our twinkling dreams
a shooting star and she prays to meet her mom again
“C’mon! sell her that lie, old man!” my heart screams.
—–
The poetry is based on the Ballad form and I have chosen the rhyming scheme, ABCB. Ballads are narrative poems with a story and a rhyming pattern. Hope I have done justice to it.☺
Pic Courtesy: Our talented Artoon Ketki Jalan painted this amazing cover picture. Thank you, the picture reveals half of the story💚💚
Absolutely wonderful poem Sonali! Loved the story and style.The picture is beautiful too.
Thanks Gowri💚🥰
Thank you Sonali Ray for believing in me.I am glad to illustrate for such am amazing poem and poet.
Your painting glorified my poem💚💚💚
Thank you Ketki for accepting my request.
Very toiching … And lovely image too.. Kudos to Ketki Jalan 💚
Absolutely! She’s an amazing artist! Thank youJP💚…
Beautiful poem with a beautiful image 💚💚 Nice story weaved into a poem.
Thank you my dear 💚💚
Touching story! I love this form of poetry! You did a complete justice, my dear! Lovely poem! Kudos to ketki for such a beautiful pictures! Brilliant, girls!💚💚💚
Absolutely💚💚 she’s a super cool girl. Painting awesome stuffs😁
And thank you pooja for your encouraging words
Wonderful poem Sonali.
Thank you Charulata ma’am.💚
Hopes and lies.. Nice one!
Thanks a lot Sai💚💚
Sometimes, lies are our only medicine. Such a poignant poem and such a rich poetry form. Kudos to your hard work and creativity
Thank you Moonmoon💚
The image is very beautiful, too. Great work, Ketki.
Yes! Indeed💚
Touching poetry and beautiful image
Thank you, ma’am.
This is a very unique take on the prompt…how a dream seller sells lies to others, and even to his own daughter.Because in this grief striken world, it is an absolute necesscity to cling to some hope in the form of dreams or lies.Beautiful poem Sonali💚
Yeah and we readily buy the dreams 😊 even when we are aware they are just dreams😃
Thanks, Indrani for your beautiful words💚
Gorgeous imagery! I loved the ballad form for this narrative!
Thank you Rianka😊
Wonderfully Narrated !!
Thank you so much Sudha😊
Sonali your ballad is beautifully woven with facts that appear in our here & now.
Thanks, Mumtaz😊 indeed the wars destroyed so many dreams yet people hold on to new dreams💚
It’s amazingly beautiful !!
Thank you, Parana. Glad you liked it💚
What a poignant n heart-breaking narrative, I love your unique n beautiful take on the prompt. 💚
Thank you Roodaba💚
Your words mean a lot🥰💚
Lovely imagery!💚💚
Thanks a lot for appreciating, Supriya💚😊
Awesome 😀, chosen concept for ballad is unique.. and the pictures are beautiful..
Thanks, Bro😄💚