POETS CORNER

John Dryden: fun facts

• He was the eldest of fourteen children.
• He was second cousin once removed to Jonathan Swift.
• He influenced the literature of his time to such an extent that the period was referred to as the “Age of Dryden”.
• He was the one to prohibit use of preposition at the end of a sentence with no particular reason; majority of grammarians ignored his so-called rule.
• He had a nickname – “Glorious John” – given by Walter Scott.
• He was proposed for Royal Society’s membership in 1662, but he remained inactive in its affairs and was eventually expelled in 1666 for not paying the dues.
• He used to feel unhappy and frustrated when writing for theatre, often suggesting that his talented pieces had unworthy audiences.
• He died in May, 1700, and was buried in St. Anne’s Cemetery; 10 days later, he was exhumed and reburied in Westminster Abbey

 

Of people and prisoners

By Zahra Akbar

Once when we were people,

we dreamed of sun-filled meadows,

of halls bursting with laughter and confetti,

and moon that shined just a little fainter than a

lover’s eyes.

Now prisoners,

we covet the constable’s dusty boots,

we dream of the dirty streets he walks,

and the grey patch he sees from his balcony,

still bigger than our sky.

 

Grave of a poetess 

By Zunaira Afzal

She opens old diaries

solemn and serene ones...

lying abstractly

among the dog-eared pages

in the store-room

of her desires...

She reads on some words

and skips some.

When the words sting,

she closes the diaries

and throws herself   

among the world of those   

unheard, unsaid words.

And then...

She mourns,

at the grave of a poetess.

 

You lose it all

By Arsh Azim

Just some words

That turned me off.

I was happy

And then I wasn’t.

Was just lost...

You desire

A dream

And let it shatter

You lose it all.

You scatter

The pieces

Of your broken heart

Count the countless

And lose the number

You lose it all.

In a minute

You are excited

The next minute

You miss the loss

You want to see it

Yet you can’t

You suffer

You lose it all.

A spotless mind that you once had

You just lose it all

With time.

 

Faded memories

By Maham Syedain

And when the stars were shining bright

On the purple satin sky,

When the clouds were drenched with the last traces of rain,

Amidst these phenomenal works of Mother Nature,

Were my isolated thoughts.

Just like the rain faded away leaving traces behind,

The moments I had relished,

Are the memories now I cherish.

The moments faded away but the memories are long lasting,

Toast to the memories!

That bring a smile on our face

And tears at the same time.

Light is not the

only remedy

By M.Sohaib Arshid

I am a moth.

A winged creature,

Imagined,

To love the light.

But I,

Despise the light,

For I fear it will kill,

My fear for darkness.

And what of life will be left,

If I crawl within the light,

Only to burn.

I am a moth.

A naïve creature,

Wanting to stay within the dark,

For the light gives me pride,

And darkness,

The strength to fight.

And what of life will be left,

If I crawl within the light,

Only to feel pride.

I am a moth.

Afraid of the light,

I am a moth,

Who despises the light.