Where the River Ends by Neetu

January 26, 2024 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as dispersed and dispelled, human sorrow, Neetu

Where the River Ends

in its gurgling sprint
toward the sea

this river into which
I empty love’s ashes—
indeed like many others
before me—
makes no fuss
no cries of complaint

the sediments and muck
of human sorrow
are all the same

to be deposited into
wider arms
deeper depths

dispersed and dispelled

Some of Neetu’s Books

Pennsylvania Bards’ Eastern PA Poetry Review 2023

THE POETIC BOND X

THE OCOTILLO REVIEW SUMMER 2018 VOL 2.2

THE POETIC BOND V

THE POETIC BOND VI

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Brewing Time by Neetu

December 26, 2023 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as Neetu, no rushing, staying a while, wayside brewery

Brewing Time

unaware, you become
resigned to
where you find yourself

relieved there’s no rush
to hit the road again

the road will be there
it never ends

you’d rather stay awhile
make some friends

enjoy a short stop
at a wayside brewery

pulling over
you scrutinize the long list of brews
names you haven’t heard before

the bartender smiles as he explains
the dark and the pale
you’re tired of the same old stout and ale
you ask for the hoppiest he can recommend

you take a swig, a sharp tang on your tongue
tells you it’ll do

the road has a long wait
it’s going to be quite a while
before you’re ready to move

Some of Neetu’s Books

Pennsylvania Bards’ Eastern PA Poetry Review 2023

THE POETIC BOND X

THE OCOTILLO REVIEW SUMMER 2018 VOL 2.2

THE POETIC BOND V

THE POETIC BOND VI

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Appearances by Neetu

November 26, 2023 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as appearances, being nice, expectations, Neetu

Appearances

I hear a knock at the door . . .
but no one appears

I sigh with relief
because I don’t need
an audience
when I am dressed
in my pajamas at noon
couldn’t care less
to impress
or to pretend
I’m a sophisticate
just waking up late
having exhausted
my intellect solving
climate change
or something still undefined
but to be expected
at the crack of dawn
one day in the future
if I am still alive

when all I did
was stare at my coffee
until it was cold . . .

but the relief!
Oh why must I apologize
for what I wear
or what I believe
even if someone appears
uninvited at my door?

The thought troubles–
I go inside
myself . . . feeling
like a hypocrite
disenchanted by
the force of habit
to seem nice

(c) Neetu Malik

Some of Neetu’s Books

Pennsylvania Bards’ Eastern PA Poetry Review 2023

THE POETIC BOND X

THE OCOTILLO REVIEW SUMMER 2018 VOL 2.2

THE POETIC BOND V

THE POETIC BOND VI

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Defiance by Neetu

October 26, 2023 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as experts, Faith, nature, Neetu, predictions

Defiance

She plants perennials
even as he predicts a drought
based on expert forecasts

long-term thinking assures
preparedness, he says,
doubtful it’s a good year
to plant

so what?
she exclaims, her hands
covered in soil
just as certain that Earth
knows better than
to rely on predictions.

Previously published in Writers & Readers Magazine, UK.