MY VERY SRI LANKAN DAY
by Bithi Das
FIRST DRAFT 26.02.2009
I have been to Sri Lanka in 1982
But we came here to the Crypt Centre
To celebrate Sri Lankan Day.
Most came for one temptation:
To eat the Fish Curry
Specially cooked by
Khassim's wife Fatima
Made with wild salmon
I have never liked salmon fish
I don't like the fishy smell
But I ate the curry
For the sake of eating
And for the sake
Of Khassim and Fatima.
And it was nice
It was very nice
To taste Sri Lankan curry
To remember Sri Lanka
But most of all, to celebrate
With Khassim and Fatima
Their Independence Day.
THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
by Bithi Das
read at the Coffee Morning, Brent Town Hall
to Barry Gardiner, Brent North MP
by special invitation 01.12.2008
(first draft: 06.12.2007)
The Christmas glow is just like an orange
The orange colour brings people love and happiness
To wait for coming year’s festivities.
Christmas is like an orange
It waits for the time to peel
Its fragrance - a delightful temptation
People love to give away and share.
Christmas means Christmas mince pie.
Inside it full of fruit
Sweetness and juiciness brings you joy
This is the special time
When you eat pie
To celebrate the Christ Child
To put your feeling high.
ALICIA
Our Drama Guru
by Bithi Das
07.03.2009
When our minds say:
You are old'
You are ill!
Everywhere is darkness around us.
Alicia, the divine angel
spreads hers arms to welcome us.
In her warmth & loving heart,
With her cheerful voice and appearance
She has shown us how to enjoy
And use our talent
Coming to drama class you lose nothing.
But you gain sincere friends
And achievements in you life.
It is Alicia, who leads us
To our fulfilment.
The Light of happiness.
revised 07.03.2009
for the TAP and West Euston Time Bank
International Womens Day Dance
Dick Collins Hall
ALICIA
(FIRST DRAFT)
by Bithi Das
14.03.2009
Our Drama Guru
Ever we known a person like her.
When our mind says you are old
You are ill
Every where is darkness around us.
Alicia, the divine angel spreads hers arms to welcome us.
In her warmth & loving heart,
With her cheerful voice and appearance
She has shown us how to enjoy and use our talent we all have
Coming to drama class you loose nothing.
But you gain the sincere friends
And achievement in you life.
Light of happiness last days of your life.
It is Alicia, who leads us
To our fulfilment.
14th March 2008
CELEBRATING:
Tony’s 60th Birthday
by Bithi Das
13.11.2008
Having Freedom Pass
This world
is like prison
When you hear
word freedom
makes you feel
You are free
just like bird
in sky
Our loved one Tony
had his freedom
pass yesterday
to open the cage
to celebrate his
Coming to age
like us.
His happy and smiling
face proclaimed as
he is free from
all his daily bondage
travelling to and froing
From his home.
What a great joy
and relief
At last Tony has come
to Third Age
Hu-rrr-ah! The Lucky One!
BITHI DAS
Bengali New Year
First draft
20.03.2008
New Year, 14th of April
Beginning of our year’s calendar
From childhood I knew
That eventful day
My mother will give me a new saree
Which I always looked forward to
Another new saree
So elegant
And so many sweets to eat
Rasgulla, Gulabjamun
I was young and greedy
Only that day I can eat so much
Well, only one day I can
Have that kind of thing
I have to wait another 364 days
Isn’t it sad?
INTRODUCTION TO DANCE
by Bithi Das
15.03.2008
Mary is the Leader
Of our English Country Dancing
The rhythm and step
The circle and courtesy
Bowing to each other.
It is the dance
We will see today
Bringing everyone joy
Rejoice
And enjoy!
"Introduction to Dance" by Bithi Das was performed with the Purple
Poets immediately before the English Country Dance Class performed
at the Health Community Project Spring Fair 15.03.2008. The poem was
written at the West Euston Time Bank 13.03.2008.
PARADISE STORE
Bithi Das
03.11.2007
I was walking along the Path of my life
When I saw this little Paradise Store,
I was curious and entered to see more
The door came open and I went inside.
I saw Angels here and there and all around.
I took the basket and an Angel said:
My dear, shop with care.
I picked up Love and Patience in the same row
Also the Understanding where-ever I go.
I had a bag of Truth and Faith.
Then I had to stop
For Courage and Strength
To run my life’s race.
My basket was full but I remembered
Salvation for Salvation, which was free.
I tried to get enough Grace
To save the world - and me.
I went to the last aisle and saw some Prayer
I stood for awhile to listen - and there
I had to stop
Because the basket was full.
I came to the counter and asked
‘How much do I owe?’
The Angel smiled at me and said,
‘Take them, where-ever you go’
Bewildered
I asked again, how much I owe,
The Angel smiled and said,
‘God has paid your bill
Long time ago.’
DREAM
by Bithi Das
National Poetry Day
October 2007
The very five letter word we call Dream
No matter King or Beggar, Rich or Poor
Young or Old
Everyone cherishes dreams in their life.
Dream to establish, dream to have nice house
Dream to have nice partner
It is all Dream, Dream, Dream.
But the question is how many times it comes true?
Dream can be melancholy or dream can be happy
The good thing is when you dream in your sleep
You hardly can remember when you wake up
That's the Dream you never feel sad
Because its not true.
But you have to Dream
Because it is part part of your life.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at Henry
Woolf's "How To Read A Poem" Workshop (London Time Banks 2007 National Poetry
Day, The Crypt, Munster Square, London).
Memory For Ever:
Playing Musical Chairs
With the Mayor
for Jill Fraser
by Bithi Das
10.06.2007
Jill Fraser. The distinguished person
With a distinguished name. 'The Mayor of Camden'
It was a sunny summer day, 2006
I was asked to join Family Sport Event
By the Boys of Surma Centre
Regent's Park
It came in my mind
The Mayor is coming to
Open the event! I came and waited
For her to arrive.
A big car came, and there she was:
A beautiful Lady in her pink
Salwar Kamiz - Indian outfit.
The Lady Mayor.
She was surrounded by people
Who wanted to greet her.
In due course
The Event started.
There were many games
Mostly for children.
I was asked to join the game
For the grown-up ladies
Called Musical Chair.
Jill joined too.
Jill and I stayed side by side.
It was the moment when we became
Just like children trying to secure our seats.
But we didn't win.
Soon Jill and I were out.
But during our play, I saw Jill's face
A little girl, enjoying her past
Forgotten days.
Bithi Das was inspired to write this poem after Jill Fraser,
Mayor of Camden, opened the London Time Bank 2006 National Poetry Day
Celebrations (Diorama Gallery Euston Square, West London).
WHY WE ARE PURPLE
by Bithi Das
29.05.2007
Do you know
Why it's called purple?
Don't ask me
I haven't got a single clue.
Some people think
Purple signifies jealousy.
But to me
the colour is stylish
See those Purple Poets
Go marching one after another
To recite their poem
In a majestic way.
I call them Pow-Pow
The Perfect-Profile
By the way, for your information
It was the colour of this year
In Chelsea Flower Show
Mostly Purple flowers everywhere
But no Purple Poets
This year.
Next year - more Purple
More Poets.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
London Time Bank National Poetry Day Writers' Reading Party, The
Crypt, Munster Square, London. 04.10.2007
BITHI DAS
STRAWBERRIES
31.05.2007
Strawberries are like roses
Full of beautiful secrets
You snip a rose
and only one word
comes from your mouth
………………
……..…Aahha
you eat a strawberry
and it melts in your mouth
…………… …
you say Aahha.
It is nothing but eternal pleasure.
Strawberries by Bithi Das
first draft: 31.05.2007
Strawberries are like roses
Full of beautiful secrets
Roses are red
and so are strawberries
You snip the rose
and only one word
comes from your mouth
………………
……..…Aahha
you eat a strawberry
and it melts in your mouth
…………… …
you say Aahha.
It is nothing but eternal pleasure.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
TAP 10th Anniversary Celebrations 2007 (TEN POEMS IN FIVE MINUTES) and also
performed it at the CAF Summer Fair, South Bank, London in
August.
TALE OF JOY
Written in Bengali and
translated into English
by Bithi Das
18.05.3007
[BENGALI]
I called them Joy and Jemima.
A wood-pigeon couple.
From last year June
I see them in my garden
In the morning
Every day on my wooden fence
At the back of my garden
No exception.
[BENGALI]
There are lots of big trees
Like oak and maple
In the back of my garden
It came in my mind,
They must be living
In one of the big trees.
Every early morning
They come down on my fence
To bask in the sun,
Staring at each other quietly
After ten, they go away together,
Don't know where,
Must be in search for food.
[BENGAL]
One day I woke up and saw it was raining
But Joy and Jemima - they are there.
Jemima spread her wing
To take rain water in her body
She wanted to take a bath.
Joy quietly started to come nearer to her
But Jemima was so angry. She fluffed her body
Looked at Joy, full of anger.
Joy went back to his place quietly again.
I was surprised to see the love and despair
Even in these birds.
[BENGALI]
I went away to Kolkata for a few weeks
When I came back, I saw Joy,
But no sign of Jemima
I waited a few days but Joy was alone,
He still sits on my fence every day.
Again I had to go away for my travelling
And this time a bit longer.
When I came back I was so eager to see Joy
But nowhere is Joy.
[BENGALI]
The grass has overgrown in my absence.
I have to cut the grass.
When I came to the garden
I saw underneath my fence
Lots of bird feathers
Scattered around.
My God - it was my Joy's feathers.
Cat has killed Joy.
I gathered all the feathers
I buried them underneath the big tree.
I had no strength to cut the grass.
Went back indoors to take shelter
In my pillow.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
2007 Camden Green Fair.
MONTENEGRO:
WILD BEAUTY
written in Bichici (Montenegro)
by Bithi Das
27.05.2007
Romans called it Black Mountain
I call it Wild Beauty.
Montenegro.
Hardly any people know about it.
Ask me where is it?
It is a little democratic state
Former Yugoslavia
Came here twenty years ago
On my way to Albanisa.
Capital called Podgorica.
It was Titograd twenty years ago.
Yes, it has changed a lot.
A lot more shops and hotels.
Tourists are pouring down
From all over Europe.
Mostly Autrians and Germans
Yes, British as well
To enjoy the Sun
And natural Beaches.
I called it wild, because everywhere
Beautiful wild flowers give joy and happiness
To people
Like me
I fell in love with its rugged mountains
Flowers and clean blue AdriaticWater
It is my hope that one day you will come here
To enjoy the wild beauty
As I have enjoyed myself.
Dobor Dan, Montenegro.
Bithi Das wrote this poem as part of her 'Travels with a Young
Little Old Lady' manuscript.
The Real St. George
by Bithi Das
12.04.2007
St. George.
I saw his statue first in Zagreb
Underneath his feet was lying The Dragon
His eyes so fierce-full to kill The Dragon
The Dragon's eyes were on him
Asking for mercy.
Above him,
The Little Red Flag was flying bravely
Courage and braveness.
Bithi Das wrote this to celebrate Saint George's Day
2007.
BITHI
DAS
PEOPLE
24.07.2010
I haven't seen Jesus in heaven
But I saw him in this world
Surrounding us.
I saw him the other day
Driving the bus.
I asked him if he could take me to the station
It was before 9 a.m. He looked at me
with smiling face asked me to get in the bus.
I didn't see any angels from heaven
But I saw them in this world
Surrounding us.
They are born with the virtue of angels
Always giving care and comfort to others
Saying - We will miss you and think of you.
They are here in this world
Surrounding us.
It is the people who make heaven and hell in this world
Surrounding us.
Bithi Das was invited to read, on behalf of the Purple Poets,
at the Time Banking UK AGM in Glastonbury on July 24, 2010, introduced by
the head of Time Banking UK, Martin Simon. (Her reading of this poem
will be sent as part of the 24/7 world video project by Ridley Scott; this
portion was facilitated by Cally Road Time Bank broker Kirsty Burns).First
draft written 29.01.2007.
FIRST DRAFT OF
PEOPLE
by Bithi Das
29.01.2007
I haven't seen Jesus in heaven
But I saw him in this world
Surrounding us.
I saw him the other day
Driving the bus.
I asked him if he could take me to the station
It was before 9 a.m. He looked at me
with smiling face asked me to get in the bus.
I didn't see any angels from heaven
But I saw them in this world
Surrounding us.
They are born with the virtue of angels
Always giving care and comfort to others
Saying - We will miss you and think of you.
They are here in this world
Surrounding us.
I didn't see any devils from hell
But I saw them in this world
They will try to show their power
Using unkind words for the sake of jokes
They are dark and ugly
And you will always recognise them
By
their acts.
Really, I don't know heaven or hell
But I do know they exist among us.
It is the people who make heaven and hell in this world
Surrounding us.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the H-pod Cumberland Market Square on International
Language Day February 22, 2007.
A LOVE POEM
by Bithi Das
15.02.2007
Love - the word you hear from your childhood
"I love you mummy" you say when you are a child
"I love you darling" you say when you are an adult.
But what about unspoken Love?
Have you ever had in your life
It is more romantic when you feel
I had love in my life in the the past
But it didn't last.
We have been parted miles and miles
away.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets atthe
H-pod Cumberland Market Square on International
Language Day February 22, 2007.
T-A-P
12.02.2007
T-A-P- What is it? Is it a dance?
Is it a Tango at Park?
No - No- No, you fool
Haven't you heard of it?
It's called Third Age Project.
Oh - yes, is it for people like you and me?
Yes my dear.
I am going to tell the story to you.
Its birthplace in Crypt Centre, Munster Square
Ten years ago - 1997
Since then it is growing and growing
Like Banyan tree.
The people who come here, all feel free
Like we do, you and me.
Here you learn lots of things
You never before had a choice to try
Poetry, Pottery, Drama, Keep Fit, Tai Chi,
Darts and Arts and Crafts
These bring you pleasure and happiness
You lose nothing but you gain love and friendship
All the people say
Only a handful of people happened to be here ten years
Edna, Jean, Kathy - the three musketeers
who can tell the story.
Many happy returns T-A-P.
The truth is, we always with you want to be.
Our good wishes on your Aluminium Anniversary
You are ten years old
Good luck and God Bless
All your loving friends .
Bithi Das wrote this poem for the 10th Anniversary Celebration
of the West Euston Third Age Project (T.A.P) and first performed it
at the Celebration at The Crypt Centre, Munster Square, West Euston,
London on June 9th 2007. Fellow Purple Poet Kathy Randle is the 'Kathy'
Bithi mentions as one of the Three Musketeers, in her poem T-A-P. Purple
Poet Jean Watt is the second musketeer, and their long-time friend Edna is
the third)
REBIRTH
by Bithi Das
21.09.2006
If I die this winter
My body will die but I shall be alive
and come back to your garden.
You will see the white snow-drops,
the first blossoms in spring
after the harsh snows in the winter.
The snow will melt
but the snow drops
will be everywhere.
As the spring brings new life and hope
you will hope that the garden
will be alive again.
But you won't know I am there
and it is me who has born again.
The bird will sing and I will dance.
You will smell the fragrance of mine.
But you won't know.
I am there.
I am born again in this beautiful world.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets atThe
H-pod Cumberland Market Square on
International Language Day February 22,
2007. This poem was selected for inclusion of an exhbition of poets in summer
2007, in Kingsbury.
IN CONJUNCTION
WITH MY POEM 'REBIRTH'
THIS POEM IS CALLED 'REVIVE'
REVIVE
By Bithi Das
15.02.2007
No I didn't die this winter
To be born as snowdrops in this world.
Instead, I went to see the snowdrops field
In Rococo Garden in Painswick Park.
It is spring, and everywhere snowdrops
I wanted to greet them to say hello and how are you?
Two days earlier, the snow fell heavily
Snowdrops were covered with snow.
They became one with white little flowers
Peeping all over the field.
I sing to them "Snowdrops keep falling on my feet"
They dance to me saying "I love you."
No, I didn't want to go from this world
I wanted to revive.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets atThe
H-pod Cumberland Market Square on
International Language Day February 22,
2007.
Antarctica - The Impossible
Dream
(Written by Bithi Das, who says she may be the first Bengali lady to put
foot in Antarctica)
17.01. 2007
An impossible dream
An - Tarc - Tica ---
That's the very dream
Of Shackleton and Scott
But how can I make it?
~ I am only a young little woman
Of 71
So many problems -
Diabetic --- High Blood Pressure --- Arthritis in Both Knees -
Not fit to walk properly at all
But that didn't matter to me anyway.
I have to go to Antarctica
To see Penguins - Seals - Beautiful Blue Glaciers
The kingdom of ice.
Once I decided
I didn't have to wait long
I went to "Discover the World to Antarctica"
at the Earl's Court DESTINATION travel show
I thrilled as I talked to Nikky who booked my voyage
I waited patiently for one year
And set sail 28th of November 2006
I had to go to Ushuaia (the last town in Argentina)
To catch the Russian boat called "Orlova"
Named after the Russian Ballet Dancer
It is a thirteen day journey
We have to cross the dangerous Drake Passage
Two days and Two nights
To get to the South Atlantic Ocean
The waves were 18 feet high
Dancing madly
And our boat was nothing but a toy
We were 104 dreamers from all over the world
Most of us became very sick
I lay down in bed for two nights and two days
No breakfast, no lunch, no dinner
Then after two days everything was calm.
We are in Antarctica.
The boat stopped at Deception Island
To see penguins. Next day we landed
At King George's Island
To see the Russian and Chilean Research Centre
We landed on this island to have our passports stamped
The proof that we were in Antactica.
Next day we came to Neko Harbour, the Mainland
It was only penguins marching
One after another
To get to their nests.
Stepping onto the land of Main Antarctica,
I felt I have achieved
So much in my life.
I came back home full of joy.
My dream has come true.
Next, I go to Lapland.
Bithi Das wrote this poem to performed with the Purple Poets at
the Capital Age Festival's 2007 Winter Festival (London City Hall, February
8th 2007). Unfortunately, although she could come to the reheasal, on the
day of the Festival, she was snowed in, and missed the
reading!
MY JOURNEY TO PAKISTAN
dedicated to Mr. Mamoud of KJTI Tours
(Karakorum Jeep Treks International)
www.kjti.co.uk
by Bithi Das
20.07.2006
Pakistan
Do you know the meaning of it?
The land of Purity.
It was one of my dreams
To come to see the land
Where Alexander's tired soldiers broke
Their journey to settle in the
Beautiful valley called Kalash.
There is a place called Khaplu
Where Chinzis Khan's descendants
Still live in their mongolian look.
It is history and I wanted
To see it.
In the Group there was Ken,
Simon, Sharon, Susan, John, Derek,
Ray and Stewart.
We had one desire in common,
To see Pakistan.
We travelled thousands and thousands
Of miles crossing rivers, mountains
Valleys, and of course, came to know people.
Came to the view point where Himalaya
Karakram and Hindukush met.
The snow-caped peaks
Stood in front of me in their majestic way.
I felt, if there is heaven,
It is here and the presence of God
In front of these gigantic mountains.
I felt I am no one .
Yes, it is the land of Purity where
You will find from children to old waiting
To greet you with their joyful voice.
No crime, no robbery,
Poor but Honest people every where.
At the end, it just came in my mind
These words - VINI VIDI VICI
We came, we saw ,
And we were conquered
By the heart of the people.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
Cumberland Market Festival,Cumberland Market, at
2 p.m. on the Main Stage
on July 29, 2006.
MY MOTHER SAID
by Bithi Das
13.01.2006
If your right palm is itching
You are going to get some money
I always used to believe that
But it never happened to me.
So many times I had the palm itching.
But to my surprise
It was I who had to spend money
For some reason or other.
Now I am a mother
I never tell the tale
To my younger generations
It is only in the mind.
Bithi Das wrote this to celebrate Friday, the
Thirteenth!
FROM MY WINDOW
by Bithi Das
October 2005
From my window I see my Garden, it needs tidy up
I like to be in my garden because it needs me.
In my Garden, I see a robin who sings non-stop
To cheer me up.
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
TAP 10th Anniversary Celebrations June 9th, 2007 (TEN POEMS IN FIVE
MINUTES)
ODE TO KATHY
A Christmas Poem
for Kathleen Falciola)
by Bithi Das
14.12.2005
Our honourable little Kathy
She always looks very happy
Her smiling delightful eyes
Can be compared with divine sky.
She has no foes but only friends
And everybody runs round her with a hand to lend
Kathy we all wish you the very best
Because you are the ideal example of rest
May God bless you darling and
Wish you a very Merry Christmas
Your loving friends
Third Age Project
Bithi Das first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the
Third Age Project Time Bank Christmas Party on 02.12.2005. (Please note,
WETB has two wonderful members called Kathy. This poem is written to Kathy
Falciola, not Kathy Randle, however Kathy Randle is the 'Kathy' Bithi mentions
as one of the Three Musketeers, in her poem T-A-P)
THE MYSTERY
by Bithi Das
20.07.2006
I remember my childhood when I was six years old
My father every day used to go to work early in the morning
One day, early morning ,I saw police in our house
My father didn't go to work and 4,5 policemen were
Asking him many questions.
I didn't understand what was happening. Then after
Ten minutes they took my father away.
I was frightened that I would never see my father again.
I cried and cried my whole morning. Didn't go to school
Instead went to bed ---
--- until late morning
When my father came back. My mother
Told him what had happened to me.
Father held me up in his arms and said "darling
I am back don't cry for me any more."
It was the happiest time
But until now I never
Solved the mystery of why Father
Was in the police station
In the first place.
Bithi Das is a founding member of the Purple
Poets.
STORY OF A RED ROSE
Valentine's Day 2006
by Bithi Das
3.03.2006
Laos the country. I am going away.
I come to Heathrow earlier
So decided to have a drink to feel easier.
Café was upstairs
So I took the escalator
Just in front, there was a bagel café.
There was a young lad opposite the counter
Who served bagel and tea to me.
I went to the nearest table and then
Suddenly I felt somebody near to me
The young lad with a red rose in his hand.
He smiled and the rose was offered.
I smiled and felt I have been honoured
Oh yes, it is Valentine's Day.
I went down to check-in.
There was a handsome lad in the desk within.
I liked him and I think he liked me too
He gave me a gorgeous smile and I
Gave him the rose.
We understood and said nothing.
I had the fun, so I had to run
And this was the end of my Red Rose Story.
Bithi Das wrote this poem as part of her "Travels with a Young
Little Old Lady" manuscript. |
