Recent suicide bombing in Afghanistan.‘The Afghan Plight’ by Satyananda Sarangi The Society August 31, 2021 Alexandroid, Culture, Poetry, Terrorism 20 Comments . The starlit sky is filled with smoke ______and men succumb To dread, while folded hands invoke ______to overcome This awful plight; yet prayers heard ______through fervid faith Are breath for Satan. Death’s preferred ______to blows that scaith And wake the human soul. If eyes ______could only find A route where dreams of peace can rise ______against the wind. . . Satyananda Sarangi is a young civil servant by profession. A graduate in electrical engineering from IGIT Sarang, his works have featured in The Society of Classical Poets, Snakeskin, WestWard Quarterly, Sparks of Calliope, Page & Spine, Glass: Facets of Poetry, The GreenSilk Journal and elsewhere. Currently, he resides in Odisha, India. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 20 Responses Paul W Erlandson August 31, 2021 Thank you. I like this, especially the last quatrain, and the rhyming of find and wind. Reply Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Greetings Mr. Erlandson! Thanks a lot for the appreciation. Well, the rhyming of find and wind came natural to me – I guess it’s embedded in my mind. W.B. Yeats often used the ‘find-wind’ rhymes; his writing has had some influence on me. ,But for those mornings when I find The lapwing at their foolish dies And the sheep bleating at the wind As when I also played the fool.’ (from “The Hour Before Dawn” by William Butler Yeats) Best wishes and warm regards. Reply Paul W Erlandson September 4, 2021 Yeats is the real deal. Allegra Silberstein August 31, 2021 Thank you for your poem and especially for the dream of peace. Reply Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Allegra ma’am, greetings! The situation in Afghanistan is alarming. Putting aside the blame game that’s going on, if we consider the future of the country, one can only dream of peace. Quite thankful for reading my poem – you’ve been one constant reader of my works. Grateful. Best wishes and Regards. Reply Jared Carter August 31, 2021 Wonderful! I have seldom seen a more accomplished Alexandroid. My thanks to Mr. Mantyk for drawing it to my attention. Reply Paul W Erlandson August 31, 2021 Hi, Mr. Carter, I know this is an older thread, but I was excited to see mention of your name here, and then to find a reply from you! I attended a reading of yours at Purdue University when I was an engineering student there in the early 1980s. We students were allowed to read for you as well, and the moment when a line of my poem made you smile remains to this day one of the highlights of my life. I hope you are well. Reply Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Greetings, Jared Carter Sir! There’s not a bigger accomplishment than being appreciated for a form by the inventor himself. At first, the alexandroid to me appeared as crisp, subtle and skillful – I took an instant liking to the form. Glad to have your comment here, it made my weekend. Thank you. Best wishes and regards Reply Sally Cook August 31, 2021 Dear Mr. Sarangi – Your very sensitive poem is much appreciated. Americans are very ashamed for the mess. It is awful. How can it be an accident? Please,l share your fine work again. Reply Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Sally ma’am, greetings! Thank you for your kind appreciation. It means a lot. Keep inspiring young poets like us. Best wishes. Warm Regards Reply C.B. Anderson September 1, 2021 I’m not familiar with the word “scaith” at the end of the second stanza. Can you enlighten me? Did you mean “scathe?” But I agree with Jared that you have mastered the essential elements of the alexandroid. Reply Mike Bryant September 1, 2021 That is a great alexandroid… and C.B. I found this: scaith n. A Scotch spelling of scathe. More at Wordnik from The Century Dictionary. So I guess that’s the spelling after the proper amount of whisky has been honoured. Reply C.B. Anderson September 3, 2021 Good whisky is better imbibed than honored, and the “proper amount” is as much as you can handle. Raised cups are better than crazed pups. Or so I’ve been told. Mike Bryant September 3, 2021 I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy… that’s an old groaner.. C.B. Anderson September 3, 2021 From Dorothy Parker. Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Mr. Bryant, greetings! Well I think that poetry has a greater effect than that of whisky! It’s always wonderful to have your comment here, I love that deadly sense of humor. Best wishes. Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Mr. Anderson, greetings! Well let me confess – I was thinking about you as I was writing this and it was because of the following comment of yours on my last alexandroid – “The next time you write an alexandroid, remember: more enjambment! See the original article for Jared Carter’s (the inventor of the form) thoughts on this.” Your words have always been a guiding light, thanks for the inspiration. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant September 7, 2021 Satyananda, you have managed to take the heart-rending tragedy in Afghanistan and wrap it in the sensitivity and beauty of carefully chosen and adeptly woven words, while maintaining the integrity of a challenging form, and for that I commend you and thank you. I can only echo the words of the inspirational and creative Mr. Carter; “I have seldom seen a more accomplished Alexandroid” – very well done, indeed. Reply Satyananda Sarangi September 24, 2021 Dear Susan ma’am, greetings! The alexandroid form has been close to me ever since I laid my eyes on it. We are heading towards a catastrophe – the crisis in Afghanistan is a threat to mankind everywhere. Thanks a ton for your kind words. Keep inspiring. 🙂 Reply Ravi Choks October 11, 2021 What’s a better tribute to a good poem than writing another (though not so good) one! In Bliss for now… They say- in Greek and Latin works well but our language suit not nice Not sure- I must admit but seen lot glut in times fresh in a trice. So thought I- why not try this form now when stars shine bright in my sky and feeble venture one to pen begin Voila! It’s not bad try. May, nay nay, surely need more practice some but virgin strives like this for certain shall dispel all crumbs of glum and for now, I’m in bliss. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Paul W Erlandson August 31, 2021 Thank you. I like this, especially the last quatrain, and the rhyming of find and wind. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Greetings Mr. Erlandson! Thanks a lot for the appreciation. Well, the rhyming of find and wind came natural to me – I guess it’s embedded in my mind. W.B. Yeats often used the ‘find-wind’ rhymes; his writing has had some influence on me. ,But for those mornings when I find The lapwing at their foolish dies And the sheep bleating at the wind As when I also played the fool.’ (from “The Hour Before Dawn” by William Butler Yeats) Best wishes and warm regards. Reply
Allegra Silberstein August 31, 2021 Thank you for your poem and especially for the dream of peace. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Allegra ma’am, greetings! The situation in Afghanistan is alarming. Putting aside the blame game that’s going on, if we consider the future of the country, one can only dream of peace. Quite thankful for reading my poem – you’ve been one constant reader of my works. Grateful. Best wishes and Regards. Reply
Jared Carter August 31, 2021 Wonderful! I have seldom seen a more accomplished Alexandroid. My thanks to Mr. Mantyk for drawing it to my attention. Reply
Paul W Erlandson August 31, 2021 Hi, Mr. Carter, I know this is an older thread, but I was excited to see mention of your name here, and then to find a reply from you! I attended a reading of yours at Purdue University when I was an engineering student there in the early 1980s. We students were allowed to read for you as well, and the moment when a line of my poem made you smile remains to this day one of the highlights of my life. I hope you are well. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Greetings, Jared Carter Sir! There’s not a bigger accomplishment than being appreciated for a form by the inventor himself. At first, the alexandroid to me appeared as crisp, subtle and skillful – I took an instant liking to the form. Glad to have your comment here, it made my weekend. Thank you. Best wishes and regards Reply
Sally Cook August 31, 2021 Dear Mr. Sarangi – Your very sensitive poem is much appreciated. Americans are very ashamed for the mess. It is awful. How can it be an accident? Please,l share your fine work again. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Sally ma’am, greetings! Thank you for your kind appreciation. It means a lot. Keep inspiring young poets like us. Best wishes. Warm Regards Reply
C.B. Anderson September 1, 2021 I’m not familiar with the word “scaith” at the end of the second stanza. Can you enlighten me? Did you mean “scathe?” But I agree with Jared that you have mastered the essential elements of the alexandroid. Reply
Mike Bryant September 1, 2021 That is a great alexandroid… and C.B. I found this: scaith n. A Scotch spelling of scathe. More at Wordnik from The Century Dictionary. So I guess that’s the spelling after the proper amount of whisky has been honoured. Reply
C.B. Anderson September 3, 2021 Good whisky is better imbibed than honored, and the “proper amount” is as much as you can handle. Raised cups are better than crazed pups. Or so I’ve been told.
Mike Bryant September 3, 2021 I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy… that’s an old groaner..
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Mr. Bryant, greetings! Well I think that poetry has a greater effect than that of whisky! It’s always wonderful to have your comment here, I love that deadly sense of humor. Best wishes.
Satyananda Sarangi September 4, 2021 Dear Mr. Anderson, greetings! Well let me confess – I was thinking about you as I was writing this and it was because of the following comment of yours on my last alexandroid – “The next time you write an alexandroid, remember: more enjambment! See the original article for Jared Carter’s (the inventor of the form) thoughts on this.” Your words have always been a guiding light, thanks for the inspiration. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant September 7, 2021 Satyananda, you have managed to take the heart-rending tragedy in Afghanistan and wrap it in the sensitivity and beauty of carefully chosen and adeptly woven words, while maintaining the integrity of a challenging form, and for that I commend you and thank you. I can only echo the words of the inspirational and creative Mr. Carter; “I have seldom seen a more accomplished Alexandroid” – very well done, indeed. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi September 24, 2021 Dear Susan ma’am, greetings! The alexandroid form has been close to me ever since I laid my eyes on it. We are heading towards a catastrophe – the crisis in Afghanistan is a threat to mankind everywhere. Thanks a ton for your kind words. Keep inspiring. 🙂 Reply
Ravi Choks October 11, 2021 What’s a better tribute to a good poem than writing another (though not so good) one! In Bliss for now… They say- in Greek and Latin works well but our language suit not nice Not sure- I must admit but seen lot glut in times fresh in a trice. So thought I- why not try this form now when stars shine bright in my sky and feeble venture one to pen begin Voila! It’s not bad try. May, nay nay, surely need more practice some but virgin strives like this for certain shall dispel all crumbs of glum and for now, I’m in bliss. Reply
