The Ontario Poetry Society - Awards - Ted Plantos Memorial Award Winner for 2007

Yaqoob Ghaznavi

Congratulations to Yaqoob Ghaznavi, in recognition of being selected
the 2008 recipient of The Ted Plantos Memorial Award.

"The poems by Yaqoob Ghaznavi have clarity of image,
simplicity of language, maturity of content and they come 'real'
to the page as it is with lived experience well expressed. "

John B. Lee, Poet Laureate of Brantford

Poems from Yaqoob's Chapbook

Shadow

from the first blurry thought
to the last drop
of this afternoon's rain
he has been there
breathing inside my head

even a child
he was good
at smelling danger
fleeing from war
he steered us clear of thieves
murderers, carrion eaters

rascals we feast
on truffles and caviar
father bought for the party

always into mischief
he hides things
mother constantly looking
for glasses, earrings, car keys

at times he goes away
long journeys
it is a relief
but I do miss him

not much of a talker
I do not know
about the sights he visits
nights in the deserted ruins
walks in the rain forest one day I may find
who he really is
perhaps a Samurai
or a Jesuit in disguise

his love affairs?

when in the mood he plays
songs from the sixties

slow dance

we are back in Berlin
in love with the same girl

do not ask him
to leave
it scares us

what will I do
without him

Animal Farm

seven times
I paint
the circle
ugly black

fail to cover
the burning red
of my rape

square was not empty
still
some patchy daylight
thick air absorbed
my screams
no resonance
earth did not shatter

one boy
aloof
melancholy
not participating
did not touch me

why

Dragon Feast

in front of the balcony
on opaque air
slightly above the clothesline
a snake charmer is dancing
to the heartbeat of his cobra

his jealous wife
is not pleased
starts a big fire
flames destroy
the illusion of a dance floor

oncoming traffic
splashing into water
comes to a sudden halt

the snake charmer plummets
into the oleander bushes
barely avoids heart failure

witches of the north
cobra's distant cousins
hold counsel
debate lawsuit
damages
bribes

before consensus is reached
the night-well dries up

Venus

stumble from body to body
feel cold lips
touch the silent heart

your battlefield
a collage of blood
an empty graveyard

you have killed
every last one of them:
children
yours and mine

mars my love
my wedded prince
your reign is now
supreme

in this desolation
my soul craves company
I freeze
in your hellish heat
your loathsome presence
melts my bones

at the fall of dusk
you may find me
defeated
knocking at your door
making your victory
complete